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This  BOOK  may  be  kept  out  TWO  WEEKS 
ONLY,  and  is  subject  to  a  fine  of  FIVE 
CENTS  a  day  thereafter.  It  was  taken  out 
on  the  day  indicated  below: 


APR  3     1973 


REUBEN  DELTON, 


PREACHER: 


A  SEQUEL  TO 
"THE  STORY  OF  MARTHY." 


BY 


S.  O'H.  DICKSON, 


Author  o/'"'' Guessing  at  Heroes.^''  '^ Hoivard  JMcPhlinn^''  ''  Tlie  Story  of 
Marthy^''  ''  The  Grangers  ajid  Other  Stories.''^ 


RICHMOND,  VA.: 
Presbyterian  CoMxMittee  of  Publication. 


Copyrighted 

BY 


J  AS.  K.  HAZEN,  Secretary  of  Publication. 

1900. 


Printed  by 

Whittet  &  Shepperson, 

Richmond,  Va. 


TO  THOSE  WHO  DO  NOT  KNOW 

"THE  MOUNTAIN  WHITES  OF  THE  SOUTH," 

TO  THOSE  WHO  WOULD  HELP  THEM, 

AND 

TO  SOUL-WINNERS  EVERYWHERE, 

THIS  STORY  IS  INSCRIBED 

BY  THE  AUTHOR, 

S.  O'H.  DICKSON. 

Winston-Salem,  N.  C. 


00 


CONTEXTS. 


BOOK  I. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Page. 

The  Call, 

.      9 

CHAPTER  11. 

The  Lost  Sheep,      .... 

.       30 

CHAPTER    III. 

A  Strange  Visitor, 

.       51 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Kindness  Reciprocated,  ....       67 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Victory  of  Love,      .....       86 

CHAPTER  VI. 
A  New  Man, 107 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Sustaining  Grace, 133 


6  Contents. 

BOOK  II. 

CHAPTER  I.  PAGE. 

Into  the  Unknown,  .....     147 

CHAPTER  II. 
The  Friends  They  Left  Behind,     .         .         .176 

CHAPTER  III. 

'Tis  Home  Where'er  the  Heart  Is,"      .         .     190 


<c 


CHAPTER  IV. 
Some  Sad  Sights,     ......     209 

CHAPTER  V. 

Preacher  Delton  in  a  New  Role,    .         .         .222 

CHAPTER  VI. 

The  Deltons  as  Psychological  Studies,  .         .239 

CHAPTER  VII. 
A  Fisher  of  Men, 263 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
A  Year's  Changes, 284 

A  POSTSCRIPT. 
A  Year  Later,         ......     295 


Book  I. 


Howe'er  it  be,  it  seems  to  me 

'Tis  only  noble  to  be  good ; 
Kind  hearts  are  more  than  coronets, 

And  simple  faith  than  Norman  blood." 

Tennyson. 


Reuben   Delton,  Preacher. 


CHAP  TEE    I. 
The  Call. 


IT  was  the  early  dawn  of  a  summer  morning, 
in  the  heart  of  the  Bhie  Eidge  Mountains. 
A  o'reat  sea  of  mist  stretched  far  as  the  eve  could 
reach,  nay,  it  seemed  to  bathe  the  very  shores  of 
etemitv ! 

A  cold  ^vind  was  blowing  from  where  the 
dawn  was  beginning  to  redden  the  eastern  sky. 
Here  and  there  the  waves  of  this  great  white  sea 
were  catching  those  delicate  pink  tints  which 
were  soon  to  deepen  into  the  wondrous  rose  that 
transforms  cold  mists  into  a  sea  of  fflorv. 

Such  a  scene  Marthy  Delton  looked  out  upon, 
with  a  heart  thrilling  with  devout  admiration, 
some  four  years  after  the  date  of  her  marriage, 
at  which  time  The  Story  of  MaHJiy  closed. 

She  was  standing  in  the  front  door  of  the 
comfortable  home  to  which  Reuben  Delton  had 
taken   her   as   a   bride.      Her  bright  face   had 


10  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

gained  in  attractiveness — as  every  woman's 
should — in  the  four  years  of  her  married  life. 
There  was  strength  as  well  as  sweetness  there 
now.  Strength  that  had  come  wdth  habits  of 
self-control  and  self-denial,  and  sweetness  that 
had  been  added  by  love,  both  as  wife  and 
mother. 

She  wrapjDed  her  red  shawl  about  her  head 
and  shoulders  more  closely,  as  she  lingered  to 
watch  the  ever-new  wonder  of  the  sunrise,  and 
her  brown  eyes  filled  with  tears,  that  rose  from 
the  depths  of  a  keen  sorrow,  the  first  great  sor- 
row of  her  young  life!  Eeuben  had  told  her 
something  that  led  her  to  fear  they  might  have 
to  turn  her  back  on  the  dear  little  home,  and 
on  the  scenes  which  she  loved  almost  worship- 
fully. 

She  brushed  away  the  tears,  though,  and  sang 
in  a  clear,  rich  voice  the  w^ords  that  oftenest 
came  to  mind  when  she  looked  out  from  the 
manse  door — 

"  All  thy  works  shall  praise  thee,  0  Lord, 
And  thy  saints  shall  bless  thee." 

She  could  not  see  the  barn-vard,  where  Eeub 
was  feeding  the  stock,  but  she  heard  his  cheery 
whistling,  and  turned  away  with  almost  a  sob  to 
go  to  her  work  in  the  kitchen. 

"He  does  not  feel  it  as  much  as  I  do,  and  yet 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  11 

I  know  how  much  Eeiib  loves  his  home  and  the 
view,  bnt  he  is  always  happy,"  she  thonght — ■ 
and  I  am  sure  that  he  deserves  to  be  so. 

She  busied  herself  in  her  trim  little  cook- 
room,  built  bv  Eeub's  own  hands,  and  adorned 
by  a  first-rate  stove,  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Boutelle, 
who  continued  to  be  one  of  Marthy's  warmest 
friends. 

As  she  kneaded  her  biscuits  she  sang,  "just  to 
keep  from  thinking  of  other  things,"  she  said, 
but,  in  a  little  while,  w^as  interrupted  by  a  child's 
voice,  calling — 

"Mummy!  oh!  mummy;  oo  baby  vanter  dit 
up." 

"All  right  boy.  Mummy  will  be  there  in  a 
minute." 

She  put  the  biscuits  in  the  stove,  and  ran  in 
to  her  splendid  boy.  He  had  his  mother's  soft 
brown  eyes,  and  his  father's  clear  complexion 
and  bright  smile,  and  "the  temper  of  both  of  us" 
— wrote  Marthy  to  Miss  Greyson,  quite  early  in 
his  life. 

Reuben  and  Marthy  had  never  a  doubt  as  to 
their  little  boy's  name.  It  must  be  Greyson,  of 
course,  and  there  was  not  one  of  their  friends 
who  differed  from  them  on  the  subject;  and  so 
Greyson  he  was,  nearly  three  years  old  now, 
and   master   of   enough    "American"    to   make 


12 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


known,  not  only  his  wants,  but  his  opinions  on 
many  subjects. 

^^One  that  ruloth  well  his  own  house,  having 
his  children  in  subjection  with  all  gravity,"  was 
the  motto  which  Miss  Greyson  had  suggested  to 
Reuben,  in  reply  to  a  joint  letter  in  which  they 
had  deplored  their  boy's  temper. 

"Of  course,  I  know  that  Marthy  will  rule  you 
— that  goes  without  the  saying.  Most  women 
rule  their  husbands  in  one  way  or  another ;  but 
read  the  whole  chapter,  from  which  my  sugges- 
tion is  taken,  mv  dear,  both  of  vou,  and  vou  will 
see  what  excellent  reasons  Paul  gives  for  foUow- 
ine:  his  advice.  I  want  vou  to  combine  and 
make  a  perfect  success." 

And  now,  breaking  in  upon  their  personal 
plans,  as  well  as  those  bearing  upon  their  work, 
had  come  a  call  to  go  into  another  part  of  the 
Master's  field ! 

Reuben  had  told  her  the  night  before  that  he 
was  looking  for  letters  from  two  of  the  brethren, 
and  that  he  felt  sure  that  they  would  have  a 
momentous  question  to  decide. 

"A\^iv  didn't  vou  tell  me  before,  Reub  ?  It 
isn't  one  bit  like  you  to  keep  anything  back  from 


me. 


")•> 


Reuben  rose  from  his  seat,  and,  putting  his 
arm  about  her,  drew  Marthv  to  him. 

7  *, 


Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  13 

^There's  never  been  a  tliouglit  in  my  mind 
worth  sharing,  Marthy,  that  I  haven't  told  you, 
but" — he  hesitated — "but  I  have  been  afraid  to 
talk  about  this." 

Marthy  looked  up  quickly.  ''Oh!  Reub,  do 
vou  mean — do  vou  think  God  is  calling  us  away 
from  this  SAveet  home,  and  our  w^ork  here?" 

Her  eyes  were  filling  with  tears,  her  cheeks 
were  flushed,  her  lips  were  quivering.  Reub 
was  moved  by  deep  feeling  too.  At  a  glance 
thev  seemed  to  take  in  their  little  home,  all  its 
comforts,  and  its  simple  attractions;  the  gar- 
den, the  young  trees  just  beginning  to  show 
for  the  care  taken  of  them — and  then  that  out- 
look! 

.     .     .     that  very  sea 
Of  billowy  mountains  breaking  free 
In  waves  of  beauty  'gainst  the  glowing  sky! 

How  cotdd  they  leave  it  all !  And  then,  as  the 
spiritual  power  within  them  gained  the  ascen- 
dency, their  thoughts  turned  to  the  people 
among  whom  they  had  been  working.  How 
could  they  leave  them  ? 

''But,  my  dear,  we  are  really  wasting  time 
and  tears  on  this  subject,  by  anticipating  the 
Lord's  providence. 

''We  do  not  actually  know  what  Brother  Dol- 
liver  wants  to  find  out.    Maybe  it  is  some  ques- 


14  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

tion  of  stock-raising,  or  chickens,  or  the  best 
way  to  make  a  little  money  go  a  long  way.'' 

Reuben,  as  usual,  was  trying  to  divert  Mar- 
thy's  thoughts.  It  was  a  new  thing  to  see  her  so 
cast  down. 

Reuben  stooped  and  kissed  his  wife,  then, 
taking  Greyson  from  his  chair,  tossed  him 
high  in  the  air,  and  soon  had  saddled  his  horse, 
and  was  on  the  way  to  the  post-office,  a  mile 
off. 

If  Marthv  could  have  met  him  suddenly,  as 
he  rode  slowly  towards  EvergTeen,  she  would 
have  been  astonished.  He  was  not  following  his 
own  advice  to  her. 

But  the  fact  was  that  Reuben  Delton  was 
almost  perfectly  sure  that  the  letter  he  was  ex- 
pecting would  contain  a  definite  call  to  another 
part  of  the  mountain  field. 

He  had  known  for  some  time  that  a  hardy, 
mountain  man  was  needed,  who  could  go  among 
the  people  as  one  of  themselves;  who  could  en- 
dure the  hardships  and  discomforts,  while  he 
was  lifting  the  people  to  better  things. 

There  was  a  conflict  begun  already  in  his 
heart.  The  enemy  of  souls  and  self  were  in 
league  to-day,  and  it  was  well  for  Preacher  Del- 
ton's  peace  of  mind  that  he  whose  name  is  "Won- 
derful Counsellor"  was  beside  him. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  16 

As  lie  rode  up  to  Evergreen  post-office,  a  cross- 
road store  and  post-office  combined,  his  heart 
beat  with  unwonted  vigor. 

This  young  man,  reared  in  the  quiet  atmos- 
phere of  a  respectable  mountain  farmer^s  home, 
with  different  environments,  might  have  devel- 
oped very  marked  aesthetic  gifts ;  as  it  was,  his 
education,  and  his  marriage  to  one  of  like  tastes, 
and  his  natural  surroundings,  had  moulded  his 
thoughts  and  revealed  a  nature  fully  in  sympa- 
thy with  beauty  in  every  form.  This  might 
have  unfitted  him  for  his  chosen  work,  but  his 
unwearying  labors  among  the  most  wretched 
and  impoverished  of  the  mountaineers  for  miles 
around  had  ffiven  ballast  to  the  aesthetic  side  of 
his  nature,  and  the  result  was  a  character  that 
well  deserved  the  title  given  by  a  quaint  old 
writer,  ^^God  Almighty's  gentleman.'' 

When  Reuben  Delton  reached  Evergreen, 
there  were  the  usual  loafers  around  the  door. 
One  or  two  sorry  looking  mules  were  hitched  to 
posts  near  by. 

The  post  boy  had  just  arrived,  and  Reuben, 
though  eager  enough  for  his  mail  to-day,  stopt 
with  a  friendly  word  for  each  of  the  group  out- 
side, and  was  met  with  a  look  of  welcome  that 
does  not  often  adorn  the  stolid  faces  of  men 
utterly  untrained  in  the  habit  of  expression ;  in- 


16  Reuheii  Delton,  Preacher. 

deed,  who  seem  often  devoid  of  the  feeling  that 
needs  expression. 

The  opening  of  the  mail  of  a  country  post- 
office  is  soon  accomplished.  A  few  newspapers 
from  the  county  town,  and,  maybe,  a  few  more 
from  the  outside  world,  a  stray  letter  or  two — 
such  had  been  the  story  of  mail  delivery  at 
Evergreen  post-office  until  Preacher  Delton  had 
settled  in  the  neighborhood. 

Probablv  half  of  the  men  collected  about  the 
door  had  no  other  motive  for  waiting  there  than 
the  desire  to  see  Reub  Delton  get  his  mail.  It 
was  a  never-ceasing  source  of  wonder  and  amuse- 
ment, too ;  and  the  value  of  their  preacher  was 
enhanced  in  no  small  degree  by  the  universal 
belief  that  '^^he  gits  ther  mos'  letters  of  any  man 
in  Wautaus'a  countv,  you  bet." 

This  morning  when  Reuben  asked,  "Any  let- 
ters for  me  to-day,  Mooney  ?"  there  was  a  burst 
of  laughter  outside,  and  somebody  called  out, 
"Say,  preacher,  d'you  ever  happen  not  ter  git 
anything  V^ 

Reub's  anxious  expression  gave  place  to  a 
bright  smile  as  he  called  out,  "Oh !  yes,  I  think 
so." 

He  had  hardly  finished  speaking  when  the 
postmaster  handed  him  a  bundle,  and  at  a  glance 
he  saw  that  the  letter  on  top  was  postmarked 
Asheville. 


Eeuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  17 

He  was  about  to  beat  a  hasty  retreat  when  a 
woman  turned  the  corner  of  the  building,  and 
came  in. 

^^Waal,  preacher,  is  that  you.  Why,  I  was 
a  plannin'  ter  come  on  down  ter  yer  house  arter 
you.  Why,  Mandy  Snoggs,  up  yer  on  the 
Squire's  mountain  farm,  why  she's  down  with 
the  fever,  an'  powerful  bad  off.  She  said  she 
wanted  to  see  you — could  you  go  up  thar  some 
time  to-day?" 

'^Oh !  yes,  of  course,  I'll  go,  Mrs.  Belvin,  but 
I'll  be  obliged  to  go  home  first.  I  guess  that 
Mandy  will  need  some  things,  and  maybe  my 
wife  can  go  too. 

^'Well,  I'm  right  glad,  fur  you'uns  is  the  on'y 
ones  kin  do  anything  with  Mandy,  an'  she  do 
need  somethin'  to  make  her  more  easv  'an'  she 
is  now." 

In  a  moment  Reuben  had  decided  that  it 
would  not  do  to  leave  Marthy  in  suspense  about 
the  letter.  He  could  read  it  himself  on  the  way 
up  to  the  miserable  little  hovel  on  the  mountain 
that  ^landy  Snoggs  called  home,  but  he  had  no 
right  to  let  Marthy  suffer  suspense  which  he 
could  relieve. 

Accordingly,  he  mounted  his  horse  quickly, 
and  as  he  rode  he  tore  open  the  letter  post- 
marked from  Asheville,  and  found  that  it  was 


18  Ueuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

indeed  from  an  evangelist  of  that  Presbytery, 
and  this  was  tlie  letter : 

"Dear  Brother  Deltok"  :  In  the  course  of 
a  conversation  v^ith  Brother  Munson,  a  short 
while  ago,  he  mentioned  yon  as  a  man  very  well 
fitted  for  onr  mountain  field.  When  he  did  so, 
I  regarded  the  testimony  as  particularly  oppor- 
tune. We  are  sorely  in  need  of  a  strong  men, 
bodily,  mentally,  spiritually  strong.  The  de- 
velopment of  our  work  depends  on  prompt  and 
vigorous  action. ' 

^'Now  you  may  be  saying  that  what  is  true 
over  here  is  equally  true  on  your  side  of  the 
mountain,  and  I  can  believe  you ;  but  I  think  I 
can  prove  to  you  that  our  call  is  not  unreason- 
able. 

"We  have  several  men  spiritually  and  men- 
tally fitted  for  the  work ;  men  ready  and  willing 
to  deny  themselves  for  Christ,  but  they  are  not 
physically  suited.  They  are  town-bred  men,  and 
you  know  that  the  environments  of  ever  so  poor 
a  man  in  town  are  very  different  from  those  of 
one  reared  in  the  mountains,  consequently  they 
do  not  so  readily  adapt  themselves  to  their  work ; 
they  are  recognized  as  'differ'nt.  In  conse- 
quence their  intercourse  savors  of  patronage, 
without  their  meaning  it. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  19 

'^Others  are  willing  to  go  for  training,  or  as 
an  experiment,  but  do  not  look  forward  to  this 
as  a  permanent  field. 

"l^o\Y  Brother  M tells  me  that  yon  were 

born  and  reared  in  the  mountains,  and  have  had 
four  years  of  encouraging  experience  as  a  pastor 
among  these  people,  and,  still  further,  that  you 
mean  this  to  be  your  life-work. 

^Trom  what  he  tells  me  of  your  wife,  I  judge 
that  she  is  as  well  qualified  as  yourself. 

^^Ours  is  a  Macedonian  cry.  Think  over  it, 
and  pray  over  it,  from  our  standpoint  as  well  as 
from  your  own,  before  you  reply. 

^^And  may  he  whose  work  it  is  guide  you  ! 

"I  am  yours  fraternally, 
^^  James  Montgomery  Doleiver.^'' 

Reuben  Delton  folded  the  letter  and  rode 
slowly  on  without  gathering  up  the  reins  which 
he  had  allowed  to  fall  on  his  horses' s  neck. 

His  very  first  thought  was  of  Mar  thy.  How 
could  she  bear  to  go?  Poor  little  Marthy, 
whose  life  had  been  so  full  of  brightness  for  the 
last  ten  years ;  who  had  a  nature  so  fitted  for 
the  refinements  and  the  comforts  of  life;  how 
could  he  ask  her  to  give  up  such  as  they  had  in 
their  sweet  mountain  manse  ? 

Then  his  thoughts  turned  to  one  and  then  an- 


20  Reuben  Delton,  Preaclier. 

other  of  tliose  who  they  had  rescued  from  lives 
of  sill  and  wretchedness,  and  over  whom  they 
watched  with  unceasing  prayer  and  patience; 
how  could  they  leave  them  ?  Wonld  it  be  right  ? 
Wlio  could  take  their  place?  He  suddenly  re- 
membered that  this  was  all  the  Master's  work, 
and  that  if  he  needed  a  laborer  in  another  part 
of  his  field,  he  would  attend  to  the  filling  of  his 
place  without  the  assistance  of  either  Martliy  or 
himself. 

He  was  in  sight  of  his  home  by  this  time. 
The  cottage  had  never  looked  more  attractive 
to  Reub.  Over  the  front  door,  on  a  trellis  built 
bv  his  own  hands,  a  luxuriant  nasturtium  and  a 
scarlet  bean  were  trailing.  The  front  yard  was 
gay  with  dahlias  and  others  flowers.  The  small 
windows,  with  their  white  curtains,  and  the 
shelves  under  them  adorned  with  choice  potted 
plants,  all  gave  an  air  of  blended  comfort  and 
beauty  that  appealed  to  the  aesthetic  taste  of 
Reuben  Helton. 

Then  he  looked  across  the  road  to  the  com- 
fortable, well-filled  bam,  and  to  the  lot  where  his 
stock  was  grazing,  and  then,  off  to  that  wonder- 
ful view,  which  grew  dearer  and  dearer  to  him 
every  day.  The  pure,  fresh  breeze  that  was 
nearly  always  blowing  here,  fanned  his  brow. 

The  lazy,  white  clouds  drifted  slowly  above 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  21 

the  foreground  of  the  wondrous  picture,  casting 
their  soft  blue  shadows,  sometimes  on  the  sunlit 
mountains,  sometimes  on  the  yellow  fields,  where 
hay  stacks  lent  their  picturesque  forms  to  the 
beauty  of  the  scene,  catching  their  small  share 
of  shadow,  and  offering  it  as  a  shelter  to  the 
sheep  that  were  too  lazy  to  graze. 

Away  down  in  the  valley,  enclosed  by  pre- 
cipitous wooded  hills,  in  a  newly-cleared  field 
was  a  cabin,  from  whose  chimney  curled  the 
smoke  like  a  pale  blue  wreath  against  the  back- 
ground of  dark  green. 

There  lived  a  man  whom  Reuben  had  rescued 
from  a  desperate  life  by  his  patient  kindness, 
and  who  was  now  a  sober,  law-abiding  citizen, 
earning  his  living  for  the  first  time  by  the  sweat 
of  his  brow. 

That  humble  cabin  was  almost  as  delightsome 
a  feature  of  the  landscape  as  the  pale  blue  moun- 
tains that  faded  into  the  sky  at  the  distant  hori- 
zon. 

With  a  smile  that  put  his  strong  face  into  mo- 
mentary beauty,  and  with  hearty  thanksgiving 
for  that  saved  soul,  he  could  not  trust  himself 
to  dwell  longer  with  the  thoughts  that  were  rush- 
ing into  his  soul  like  a  flood.  Hitching  his 
horse  at  the  gate,  he  went  into  the  house  calling 
for  Marthy.     She  was  busy  at  her  washtub  down 


22  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

at  tlie  spring,  not  a  hundred  yards  in  the  rear 
of  the  building. 

Little  Greyson  was  playing  happily  near  her, 
and  she  was  singing  in  a  clear,  sweet  voice — 

"  It  may  not  be  my  way, 
It  may  not  be  thy  way, 
But  still  in  his  own  way 
The  Lord  will  provide." 

She  heard  Keuben  call  her,  and  wiping  hands 
quickly,  she  called  out,  ''I'm  coming,  preacher," 
then  turning  to  Greyson,  ''Come,  boy,  let's  go  to 
papa,  and  you  can  have  your  'bicky'  and  'go 
seepy  by'  when  you  get  through." 

Marthy  had  studied  her  husband's  counte- 
nance so  closely  during  the  four  happy  years  of 
their  wedded  life  that  she  read  at  a  glance,  as 
he  stood  in  the  doorway  of  the  cook-room,  that 
the  letter  he  had  expected  had  come. 

"Well '?"  she  said  in  a  tone  in  which  anxiety 
was  stronger  than  mere  curiosity. 

For  answer  Eeuben  handed  her  a  letter. 
"That  is  from  Brother  Dolliver,  and  I  read  it 
comins:  alono\  This  one  is  from  Brother  Mun- 
son.    I  have  not  opened  it  yet." 

"What  is  it,  preacher  ?  Tell  me  quickly.  I'd 
rather  hear  you  say.  You  know  this  is  the  same 
Marthy  that  was  always  asking,  'What  for?' 
and  'Why'  at  Skyland.    I  don't  love  to  wait  now 


Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  23 

much  better  than  I  did  then.  I  had  mighty  hard 
work,  and  to  keep  singing,  too,  while  you  were 
gone." 

^'Sit  down  and  read  that  carefully  while  I 
give  baby  his  biscuit  and  put  him  to  sleep,  then 
we  will  talk  it  over." 

Marthy  sat  down  dutifully  on  the  step  while 
her  husband  passed  into  the  house  with  his  little 
boy  for  one  of  his  chief  pleasures,  "a  wock  wid 
papa." 

But  he  did  not  find  papa  as  entertaining  as 
usual.  Thoughts  would  wander,  crossing  moun- 
tains, with  telegraphic  rapidity,  and  coming 
back  as  quickly  to  search  his  own  heart. 

This  man  had  firmly  grasped  twO'  principles 
upon  which  the  happiness  of  the  Christian  life  is 
built.  Having  accepted  the  Saviour  as  his 
divine  and  personal  Redeemer,  he  recognized 
that  he  owed  his  Lord  both  obedience  and  ser- 
vice. 

If  this  was  the  Lord's  call,  he  must  obey  it. 
If  this  was  the  service  required  of  him,  he  must 
give  it. 

He  looked  down  into  the  flushed  face  of  his 
child,  around  whom  clustered  some  of  the  bright- 
est of  his  hopes  and  plans  for  the  future  good  of 
the  mountain  people,  and  thought :  all  those 
plans  may  have  to  be  overturned;    that  ought 


24  Reuben  DeUon,  Preacher. 

to  show  me  wliat  a  mistake  it  is  to  look  so  far 
ahead,  ^^^lo  am  I  to  anticipate  God's  provi- 
dences, instead  of  living  and  serving  liim  by  the 
day  r 

^'Papa,  w'at  oo  dot  dem  long  fings  up  dere 
for  ?"  asked  Greyson,  in  a  sleepy  tone,  and 
stretching  his  dimpled,  half-bared  arm  to  touch 
the  heavy  lines  of  thought  on  his  father's  brow. 

Out  of  the  mouth  of  his  babe  he  was  being 
chidden  for  the  care  that  was  almost  overwhelm- 
ing him  this  morning. 

^'Papa  was  thinking  too  hard,  boy,  but  he'll 
smile,  and  they'll  all  niTi  away." 

He  looked  down  at  the  beautiful  boy  and 
smiled,  and  the  little  hand  stole  up  and  patted 
his  cheek,  the  drowsy  lids  fell,  the  angel  of  sleep 
had  come,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  little  boy 
was  away  in  Dreamland,  and  Peuben  was  free  to 
join  Martliy.  She  had  finished  reading  the  let- 
ter, and  it  lay  open  upon  her  lap.  She  sat  with 
her  head  thrown  back  against  the  doorj)Ost,  and 
was  looking  off  over  the  dense  forest  that  cov- 
ered the  mountain  side  behind  the  house.  She 
could  see  no  further  there  than  she  could  bevond 
the  letter  lying  in  her  lap.  The  tears  had  gath- 
ered in  her  eyes,  and  when  she  turned  to  Reuben 
one  fell  upon  her  cheek.  He  sat  do^^m  beside 
her,  and  said : 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  25 

"Well,  Martliy,  what  do  yon  make  of  this  ? 
Yon  always  hear  the  Master's  voice  qnicker  than 
I  do — at  least,  yon  are  always  qnicker  to  obey." 

"Oh  !  no,  oh  !  no,''  she  replied  hastily.  "Don't 
say  that,  Renb.  Even  if  I  do  seem  to  obey 
qnicker,  it  is  more  becanse  I  am  afraid  not  to 
than  becanse  I  am  more  glad  to  obey ;  bnt  oh ! 
preacher,  why — why — why  did  this  call  come? 
I  cannot  see  any  f nrther  yet  than  onr  dear  home, 
and  the  work  that  I  have  learned  to  love  here." 

Renben  sighed  deeply,  as  he  sat  patting  her 
hand  gently. 

"The  best  thing  we  can  do  is  to  take  this 
tronble  to  God  at  once."  He  rose  and  giving 
her  his  hand,  lifted  her  to  her  feet,  and  thev 
knelt  together  in  the  qniet  of  their  own  room, 
while  he  ponred  ont  his  sonl  in  a  prayer  for 
light. 

"Lead  ns  in  a  plain  path,"  was  the  cry.  Re- 
newing their  entire  consecration  to  their  Lord, 
and  to  his  work,  they  asked  for  clear  convictions 
of  dnty,  and  for  strength  to  act  npon  them. 

When  thev  rose  from  their  knees  there  was  a 
light  in  Marthy's  face  that  Renben  conld  never 
forget.  Whether  they  shonld  decide  to  go  or 
stay  she  had  snrrendered  her  will  afresh. 

"Well,  dear,"  said  Renben,  looking  down  into 
the  dear  face,  dearer  and  more  winsome  than 
ever  to  him ;  "what  do  yon  think  ?" 


26  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

"Do  you  remember,  preacher/'  asked  Marthy, 
using  lier  favorite  name  for  lier  husband,  '^do 
you  remember  how  we  asked,  at  the  beginning  of 
the  year,  for  more  service  ?  and  how  we  recalled 
that  God's  thoughts  are  not  as  our  thoughts,  nor 
his  ways  as  our  ways  ?  I  would  be  afraid  to 
stay,  if  Presbytery  is  willing  for  us  to  go.  That 
is  the  wav  I  feel  about  it.  It  would  be  an  awful 
thing  to  prevent  the  answer  to  our  own  prayer ! 
But  you've  never  opened  Mr.  Munson's  letter." 

Reuben  drew  it  from  his  pocket,  and  breaking 
open  the  envelope,  read  the  following  letter : 

^^Dear  Beothee  Delton  :  When  I  was  say- 
ing goodbye  to  you  at  Blowing  Rock,  if  you 
remember,  I  told  vou  that  I  had  had  a  letter 
from  Brother  Dolliver,  of  Asheville  Presbytery, 
and  that  I  would  write  you  about  it  later. 

^^Yesterdav  Brother  D wrote  me  that  he 

was  about  to  write  to  you  himself.  If  you  have 
received  that  letter,  the  matter  is  explained.  It 
has  given  me  some  wakeful  nights,  and  much 
perplexity.  God  forbid  that  I  should  hinder 
any  man  whom  the  Master  calls  to  another  part 
of  his  vinevard ! 

"Brother  D made  some  strong  points  in 

favor  of  your  going  to  his  help,  some  that,  put- 
ting myself  in  your  place,  I  would  fear  to  refuse. 


Beuben  Delton,  Preacher.  27 

The  need  for  an  experienced  man  avIio  is  also  a 
native  mountaineer,  is  greater  there,  because  the 
work  is  just  begun ;  but  I  feel  a  reluctance  that 
can  hardly  express  to  give  you  up.  We  have 
worked  together  in  such  perfect  harmony,  and 
you  have  had  such  an  influence  for  good  in  your 
section  of  the  Wautauga  field,  and  your  brave 
wife  has  been  such  a  power  for  good,  that  I  can- 
not see  how  you  can  be  spared. 

"But  you  and  I  believe  that  the  Spirit  has 
his  own  way  of  showing  us  the  way  wherein  we 
should  walk,  and  therefore  I  commend  you  to 
his  unfailing  care  and  guidance.  It  was  his  call 
that  you  heeded  when  you  entered  the  ministry, 
and  he  will  doubtless  lead  vou  now. 

"With  kindest  regards  for  your  wife,  and  a 
kiss  for  your  bright  boy, 

"I  am,  very  truly  yours, 

"James  Munson.'^ 

Both  Reuben  and  Marthy  were  touched  by 
this  letter,  for  there  was  a  cordial  tone  of  inter- 
est and  of  confidence  in  them  that  was  gratify- 
ing, and  which  they  had  reason  to  believe  was 
perfectly  sincere. 

They  knew  that  their  influence  had  been 
blessed  in  the  neighborhood,  but  they  gave  the 
credit  for  their  success  to  whom  it  was  due,  and 


28  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

believed  that  grace  had  been  given  them,  accord- 
ing to  promise. 

^'Whether  we  go  or  stay  we  must  eat  dinner, 
j)reacher,''  Marthj  said,  as  she  glanced  up  at 
the  clock;  and  in  her  heart  she  thanked  God 
anew  for  those  homely,  inevitable  duties  that 
compel  us  to  act  when  we  feel  most  overpowered 
by  sorrow  or  perplexity. 

^^We  must  try  to  go  up  to  Mandy  Snoggs'  this 
afternoon,  Marthy;  Mrs.  Belvin  was  at  the 
store  this  morning,  and  said  that  she  was  on  her 
way  here  to  tell  us  that  Mandy  was  very  sick, 
and  wouldn't  I  go  up  there." 

A  shadow  fell  on  Marthy's  face  when  Reuben 
said  this.  Mandy  Snoggs  had  been  one  of  the 
greatest  trials  of  her  life  ever  since  they  had 
settled  here.  Coarse,  ignorant,  with  the  record 
of  a  dark  life  of  sin  behind  her,  she  had  been  a 
persistent  visitor  at  the  manse.  Dirty  in  her 
dress,  inquisitive  and  prying,  almost  beyond 
endurance,  she  still  seemed  to  recognize  what 
was  good  and  pure  and  lovely  in  Reuben  and 
Marthy,  and  to  be  drawn  to  them ;  and  Marthy 
dared  not  repulse  her,  for  was  it  not  such  as  this 
woman  that  they  sought  to  rescue — nay,  was  it 
not  such  sinners  that  Jesus  came  to  save  ? 

The  last  visit  that  she  had  made  them  had 
tried  Marthy's  patience  almost  beyond  the  power 


Beuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  29 

of  endurance,  and  yet  at  that  time  the  woman 
had  listened  quietly  to  the  reading  of  the  Bible, 
and  had  asked  her,  before  leaving,  to  ^^say  over 
again''  the  words  of  John  iii.  16. 

^^She  is  beginning  to  grope  towards  the  light, 
I  do  believe,  Reub,"  Marthy  had  told  Reub  after 
she  was  gone. 

There  was  so  much  to  think  of  this  afternoon, 
so  much  to  pray  over,  and  yet  she  had  never  re- 
fused to  go  with  Reub  anywhere,  unless  she  was 
sick,  or  could  not  take  Greyson. 

"What  will  we  do  with  baby  ?"  she  asked  anx- 
iously, so  anxiously  that  Reuben,  interpreting 
the  shadow  on  her  face,  could  not  but  smile,  for 
it  was  evident  Marthy  hoped  her  boy  would  give 
her  an  excuse  to  stay  at  home. 

"Oh !  that  will  be  easy  enough ;  the  Farn- 
hams  are  always  glad  to  have  him  there.  I  be- 
lieve he  loves  Bessie  next  best  to  vou.  I  think 
that  you  ought  to  go  dear ;  Mandy  must  need  a 
woman's  care  and  suitable  food." 

"Well,"  said  Marthy,  quickly  recovering  her 
cheerful  tone;  "but  I  do  wonder  why  I  should 
have  to  go  this  particular  afternoon  !" 

Reuben  smiled,  and  said  gently,  "My  wife  is 
being  trained  in  patience  and  obedience." 

With  that  to  reflect  on,  Reuben  left  her  to 
prepare  their  simple  midday  meal,  while  he 
looked  after  his  stock. 


CHAPTEE  II. 

The  Lost  Sheep. 

BY  two  o'clock  they  were  ready  for  the  visit 
to  the  sick  woman.  Mar  thy  was  inoiinted 
on  ^'Delight/'  the  noble  horse  which  Reuben 
counted  in  as  a  member  of  the  family.  Happy 
little  Greyson  was  seated  on  his  mother's  lap, 
and  Reuben  walked  beside  them,  carrying  a 
basket  containing  such  articles  as  Marthy  knew 
by  experience  would  be  needed  in  the  bare  cabin 
of  Mandy  Snoggs. 

^^Baby  go  Farnha' ;  baby  go  Farnha' !"  cried 
the  happy  little  boy,  as  they  started  off  in  a  brisk 
walk. 

It  was  a  picture  worthy  of  an  artist's  brush, 
this  family  group  ;  and  how  Miss  Greyson  would 
have  feasted  her  proud  eyes  upon  it ! 

Reuben's  stalwart,  figure,  clad  in  brown  jeans, 
his  clear  complexions,  bright  grey  eyes,  and 
curly  brown  hair,  gave  to  him  an  air  of  that 
perfect  manhood  we  read  about  and  strive  after, 
too  often  in  vain. 

Marthy,  in  her  neat,  dark  calico  dress,  with 
her  sweet  face  shaded  by  a  pretty  pink  sun- 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  31 

bonnet,  would  have  caused  any  passer-by  to  turn 
and  look  again ;  and  tbe  beautiful  boy,  with  his 
complexion  so  like  his  father's,  and  his  mother's 
brown  eyes,  and  dressed  in  his  simple  wool  dress, 
and  clean  check  apron,  yet  looked  the  young 
mountain  prince  that  he  was. 

They  had  nearly  three  miles  of  rough  road  to 
travel  after  they  left  the  beautiful  turnpike  at 
Evergreen,  so  that  they  had  need  to  make  quick 
time  on  the  good  road. 

'^Whar  you-uns  goin',  preacher  ?"  called  out 
Mr.  Mooney  from  the  door  of  the  store,  as  they 
drew  near.  He  was  a  fat,  good-natured  old  man, 
who  considered  it  his  privilege  to  be  posted  as 
to  all  the  preacher's  movements. 

He  had  been  one  of  Reuben's  earliest  converts, 
and  was  one  of  his  warmest  friends.  His  long 
life  of  sin  and  self-seeking  had  made  it  hard  for 
him  to  understand  all  the  self-sacrificing  care  for 
souls,  and  bodies  too,  which  the  religion  of 
Christ  impels  his  followers  to  practice,  but  Reu- 
ben noted  with  pleasure  that  Jim  Mooney  was 
beginning  to  understand  this  as  a  motive  power. 

"Well,  this  boy  is  going  to  see  his  sweetheart, 
while  my  wife  and  I  look  after  Mandy  Snoggs." 

"Humph !"  'Pears  like  it  were  a  powerful 
waste  uv  you-uns  time  to  be  goin'  up  thar. 
Mandy' s  got  ter  be  mighty  thick  with  you-uns — 


32 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


an'  it's  j)'incerpally  'case  she  kin  fool  you-nns, 
an'  she  cain't  fool  nobody  else  'roun'  here." 

^^Oh !  Mooney,  I  wish  you  wouldn't  talk  that 
way.  What  right  have  we  to  choose  who  to  save, 
or  to  help,  or  who  not  ?  Don't  you  believe  all 
things  are  possible  with  God  ?  He  can  save  even 
Mandy  Snoggs." 

^'I  b'lieve  he  kin  do  all  things,  but  I  kinder 
mistrust  his  savin'  Mandy.  You'uns  don'  know 
Mandv  like  I  do." 

''But  all  things,  Mr.  Mooney,"  said  Marthy 
earnestly ;    all  things." 

'' Yes'm,"  said  Mooney,  slowly ;  ''all  things  is 
possible,  I  know;  but" — here  he  gave  her  a 
searching  look  out  of  his  shrewd  blue  eyes — "but 
he  don'  have  ter  do  all  things,  an'  I  don'  see  how 
he  kin  elect  ter  save  Mandy." 

"My  thoughts  are  not  as  your  thoughts, 
neither  are  your  ways  my  Avays,  saith  the  Lord. 
For  as  the  heavens  are  higher  than  the  earth,  so 
are  my  ways  higher  than  your  ways,  and  my 
thoughts  tlian  your  thoughts,"  quoted  Reuben, 
reverently. 

Mr.  Mooney  looked  at  him  with  a  softer  ex- 
pression in  his  face,  and  said,  "I  'low  that's  so, 
preacher,  but  it's  powerful  hard  to  believe  he's 
a  goin'  ter  save  Mandy  Snoggs,  for  all  that." 

Reuben   smiled,   and   said   patiently,   "Well, 


Reuben  Deltorij  Preacher.  33 

we'll  see,  and  in  the  meanwhile  suppose  yon  pray 
for  poor  Mandy/' 

They  started  off  towards  the  Farnhanis', 
which  was  only  a  short  distance  beyond  the 
store,  on  the  tnrnpike,  and  there  they  left  Grey- 
son  with  his  devoted  friend,  Bessie  Farnham,  a 
bright  girl  of  thirteen,  retracing  their  steps  im- 
mediatelv  as  far  as  the  Evero^reen,  where  thev 
turned  off  into  the  rough  mountain  road  that 
led  up  to  the  cabin  of  Mandy  Snoggs. 

In  a  little  Avhile  they  had  plunged  into  a  rho- 
dodendron thicket,  where  the  soil  was  constantly 
damp.  This  and  the  fact  that  the  roots  had  not 
been  cut  out,  made  the  climbing  hard  for  '^De- 
light," as  well  as  for  Reuben,  whose  stout  alpen- 
stock was  a  friend  indeed  just  now. 

It  was  a  lovely  afternoon ;  the  heat  of  the  sun, 
tempered  by  the  cool  breezes  that  blew  fresh 
from  the  cool  ravines  they  were  crossing  occa- 
sionally, made  the  trip  a  joy  to  Marthy.  ''De- 
light" was  too  well  trained  to  stumble  with  so 
precious  a  load  as  his  mistress,  who  was,  proba- 
bly, his  best  friend. 

For  the  first  half  mile  both  Reub  and  !Marthy 
were  silent.  Perhaps  the  rough  road  had  some- 
thing to  do  with  it ;  but  both  were  busy  thinking. 
So  far,  Reuben  had  no  clear  light  on  the  momen- 
tous question  he  had  been  called  upon  to  decide. 


34  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

When  tliey  reached  the  first  point  where  the 
thicket  had  been  cut  out  enough  for  them  to  get 
a  view,  they  stopt.  Looking  off  through  the 
opening,  they  got  a  glimpse  of  the  wondrous  sea 
of  mountains  that,  as  it  were,  bathed  the  feet  of 
Grandfather,  towering  near  at  hand. 

Away  down  below  the  course  of  the  AYestern 
^orth  Carolina  Railroad  could  be  traced,  by  the 
long  trail  of  white  smoke,  left  by  a  train  moving 
westward.  Here  and  there  heavy  smoke  lay 
above  some  factory,  or  some  town.  To  the  south, 
and  much  nearer,  was  the  straggling  settlement 
of  Blowing  Rock,  hanging,  as  it  were,  along  the 
edges  of  the  cliffs  that  mark  the  ridge  for  miles. 
The  cottages,  and  even  the  hotels,  gleamed  like 
toy  houses  at  this  distance.  One  spot  of  verdant 
green,  shining  out  from  the  blue-green  haze  that 
covered  the  middle  distance,  was  a  glimpse  of 
the  beautiful  valley  of  the  John's  river. 

^^And  there,"  thought  Marthy,  as  she  tenderly 
gazed  towards  the  valley;  ^^there  is  my  home, 
and  there,"  as  she  turned  her  eyes  to  the  gleam- 
ing cottages ;  '^there  is  where  my  true  life  began ; 
there  is  where  I  met  Miss  Grevson,  and  I  must 
turn  my  back  on  all  of  that,  if  we  go !" 

Reuben  noted  the  shadow  on  Marthy's  usually 
bright  face,  and  looking  up  from  where  he  had 
seated  himself  to  rest,  he  said  cheerily,  ^^Come, 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  35 

little  woman ;  this  is  one  of  the  times  when  it  is 
better  to  work  hard  than  to  sit  still;"  and  they 
pressed  on,  the  road  growing  steeper  and  wilder, 
until  'it  reached  the  edge  of  a  small  cleared 
patch,  where  stood  a  rude  cabin,  surrounded  by 
an  attempt  at  a  garden,  and  with  few  apple-trees 
around  it,  rugged  with  age,  and  bearing  only  a 
few  hard,  green  apples. 

A  half-starved  hound  came  out,  barking 
feebly,  and  following  him  came  a  young  woman, 
whose  appearance  there  surprised  them.  It  was 
Linnie  Farnham,  one  of  their  especial  friends 
and  co-workers,  but  who  they  had  not  thought 
would  venture  up  here. 

Linnie  Farnham,  though  younger  than  Mar- 
thy,  was  also  a  graduate  of  Skyland  Institute, 
and  had  come  home,  not  only  with  a  mind,  but 
with  a  heart  trained  to  take  her  place  among 
those  whose  wish  and  purpose  it  was  to  uplift 
their  kind.  Merry  and  bright  in  temperament, 
she  w^as  a  general  favorite,  and,  as  Marthy  said, 
had  all  the  ingredients  needed  to  make  a  fine 
preacher's  wife  some  day,  if  somebody  else  did 
not  interfere. 

She  met  them  at  the  gate,  and  Marthy  ex- 
claimed, '^'^Why,  Linnie,  you  here  ?  Why,  wdio  is 
with  you  ?    When  did  you  come  ?" 

Linnie  smiled  at  Marthy's  eager  questions, 


36  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

and  replied,  ^^Whj,  nobody  is  with  me  noAV,  but 
Mrs.  Belvin  came  over  here  about  noon;  Bud 
came  up  with  me ;  he  had  to  go  up  on  the  moun- 
tain, and  said  he  would  stop  by  for  me  as  he 
came  down.  I  knew  Mr.  Delton  would  surely 
come  up  this  afternoon,  and  was  pretty  sure 
you'd  come  too." 

All  this  was  said  while  Reuben  was  hitching 
^'Delight/'  and  helping  Marthy  down. 

^^And  how's  your  patient  ?"  asked  Reuben  as 
they  moved  towards  the  cabin  together. 

^'^Her  fever  is  very  high,  and  she  has  been 
very  restless  since  noon.  Oh !  Mr.  Delton,  I 
believe  she  going  to  die,  and  I  know  she  isn't 
ready !" 

Reub  looked  into  the  strong,  earnest  face  of 
the  girl,  with  profound  admiration  for  the  kind 
and  brave  heart  that  had  prompted  her  to  spend 
this  day  with  such  a  patient  as  Mandy  Snoggs, 
and  he  shuddered  at  the  thought  of  what  she 
must  have  heard  from  Mandy' s  lips,  if  she  was 
delirious. 

He  shook  his  head  sadly,  but  said,  ^'Do  you 
know  that  she  asked  Marthy  to  ^say  over  them 
words,'  referring  to  John  iii.  16,  which  Marthy 
had  quoted  to  her  the  last  time  she  was  at  our 
house  ?" 

They  entered  the  hovel,  for  such  it  surely 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  37 

was.  The  top  of  tlie  cliimney  liad  crumbled 
away.  The  square  hole  that  served  as  the  only 
window  in  the  house  was  covered  by  a  faded  red 
cloth.  The  large  fire-place  was  filled  with  the 
debris  of  all  the  fires  the  poor  creature  had  built 
during  the  last  two  months,  apparently,  and  the 
few  pots,  and  the  old  kettle,  which  constituted  all 
her  supply  of  kitchen  utensils,  were  on  the 
hearth. 

^N'othing  in  the  way  of  furniture  or  comforts 
were  visible  any^vhere,  if  we  except  the  clean 
sheets  which  Linnie  had  brought,  and  which 
Mrs.  Eelvin  had  helped  her  put  on  the  miserable 
bed,  upon  which  the  poor  creature  was  lying. 

They  were  probably  the  first  luxuries  of  the 
kind  that  Mandy  had  ever  enjoyed,  certainly 
since  she  had  lived  in  this  neighborhood. 

She  was  tossina:  and  moaning  when  thev  came 
in.     ]\rarthy  went  immediately  to  the  bedside — 


perhaps  we  should  say  box-side,  for  it  was  no- 
thing more  than  a  box  turned  down,  with  an 
old  straw  mattress  upon  it — upon  which  the 
woman  lay. 

The  air  of  the  room,  even  after  all  Linnie^s 
efforts  to  purify  it,  was  close  and  malodorous. 

A  glance  at  the  sick  woman  revealed  to  Mar- 
thy  that  she  was  in  a  desperate  condition.  Her 
face,  rugged  and  leather-tinted  in  health,  was 


38  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

almost  pnrple  now;  her  thin  grey  hair  was 
tossed  back  from  her  face,  and  her  eyes  were 
half  closed. 

'^^ow,  Linnie,  yon  and  Reub  go  outside,  and 
get  the  air.  Renb  walked  all  the  way  and  is 
tired,  and  he  needs  to  rest." 

Marthy  always  assumed  the  control  of  things 
in  a  sick  room  so  quietly  that  everybody  yielded 
to  her  at  once. 

She  took  a  small  bowl  from  her  basket,  and  a 
soft  linen  cloth,  and  getting  some  water,  pro- 
ceeded to  bathe  the  fevered  face  and  hands. 

AVhen  she  first  touched  the  cool  cloth  to  the 
fevered  brow,  Mandy  struck  it  aAvay. 

^^Git  away !  Wat  you  doin'  ter  me  ?"  she 
cried. 

"Why,  Mandy,"  said  Marthy  gently,  "don't 
you  know  me  ?  Why  this  is  Marthy  Delton,  and 
I'm  trying  to  cool  your  fever." 

The  heavy  lids  lifted  a  moment,  and  Mandy 
stared  into  the  face  bending  over  her. 

"Be  you  mammie  ?"  she  said  with  a  quiver  of 
the  lips.     "O  mammie !" 

Marthy  humored  the  fancy,  and  said,  "j^ow 
let  mammie  wash  your  face  and  hands ;"  and,  as 
is  so  often  the  case,  the  patient  yielded  quietly 
to  the  nurse's  gentle  firmness. 

Marthy's  watchful  eyes  glanced  up  from  the 


Reuben  Delton,  Preaclier.  39 

patient  to  tlie  miserable  surroundings,  which 
this  lonely  creature  had  called  home  for  a  time, 
at  least.  "^Tio  hath  made  me  to  differ  ?''  she 
found  herself  savinff.  ^'What  is  the  reason  this 
human  soul  lies  here,  while  my  life  has  been 
lived  in  the  sweet  mountain  manse  ?'' 

Mandy  Snoggs  had  appeared  in  the  neighbor- 
hood some  years  before,  and  at  first  had  pre- 
tended to  w^ant  work,  but  she  was  ill-favored, 
and  ill-mannered,  very  reticent  about  herself, 
and  even  about  her  name,  for  a  long  w^hile,  and 
it  began  to  be  whispered  around  that  she  must 
be  an  escaped  convict,  or  jail-bird. 

She  begged  for  food  and  for  clothes,  and  when 
she  was  sent  awav  without  either,  would  throw 
curses  behind  her  like  kisses. 

'Squire  Farnham,  who  was  always  ready  to 
help  the  poor,  compassionated  the  wretched  crea- 
ture, and  told  her  that  if  she  would  live  up  at  the 
cabin  she  might  use  it  and  small  patch  of  ground 
around  it.  Things  had  come  to  such  a  pass  with 
her  that  she  had  to  choose  between  this  offer  and 
the  poor-house,  and  Mandy  took  possession  of 
the  cabin  without  any  apparent  appreciation  of 
the  kindness,  excepting  that  she  was  never  heard 
to  curse  'Squire  Farnham  again.  She  proceeded 
to  beg  right  and  left  in  order  to  furnish  the  bare 
house. 


40 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


Most  peo^Dle  agreed  with  Jim  Mooney,  that 
there  was  no  good  in  the  woman^  and  she  met 
with  little  success. 

From  year  to  year  she  had  eked  out  a  miser- 
able living,  by  fair  means  or  fonl,  and  she  might 
well  have  said  with  the  Psalmist,  ^']^o  man  cared 
for  my  soul" — at  least,  she  might  have  said  so 
until  Reub  and  ]Marthy  came.  She  ap]3eared  at 
the  manse  before  they  had  settled  down,  and  had 
pried  into  every  part  of  the  house,  asking  every 
conceivable  question  before  the  day  was  over. 

Marthy  had  met  poor  and  miserable  people 
before,  but  none  of  Mandy's  type. 

"Oh !  Reub,"  she  said,  after  the  woman  had 
left,  "surely  our  sincerity  and  charity  are  to  be 
put  to  the  test,  if  we  are  to  entertain  this  woman. 
Why,  she  has  asked  me  a  hundred  questions, 
some  of  which  I  could  not  answer  if  I  would." 

But  llarthv  never  vielded  to  the  feeline;  that 
seemed  so  natural,  and  to-day's  visit  proved  it. 

While  we  have  been  introducing  Mandy 
Snoggs  to  the  reader,  Reub  had  been  investigat- 
ing the  spring  from  which  she  got  her  water. 
He  found  it,  as  he  had  feared,  choked  with 
leaves,  and  a  drinking  place  for  cattle  that  were 
pastured  on  the  mountain  in  the  summer.  This 
accounted  for  the  poor  creature's  fever.  She  had 
not  taken  the  trouble  to  keep  the  spring  clean. 


Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  41 

A  few  moments'  work  with  a  hoe  made  a 
material  improvement,  but  could  never  bring 
Mandj  Snoggs  back  to  life  and  health  again. 

lie  was  relieved  to  find  that  Linnie  had  not 
been  using  the  water  from  that  spring,  her 
brother  having  found  a  clear,  clean  one  higher 
up,  though  further  away. 

^^  Poor  Mandy  has  drunk  her  death  potion 
from  that  spring,  I  fear,"  said  Reuben  sadly; 
^'yes,  and  it  is  such  conditions  that  produce  the 
terrible  mortalitv  in  our  beautiful  mountains 
from  typhoid  fever.  God  never  intended  this 
to  be  so,  and  I  am  waging  as  relentless  a  war 
against  impure  water  and  uncleanliness  as  I  am 
against  sin !" 

Marthy  was  standing  in  the  doorway  listening 
while  he  was  speaking  to  Linnie  Farnham. 

^^Come  in  and  read  something  from  the  Bible 
to  her;  she  may  listen  and  be  able  to  take  in 
some  word  that  vou  read.'' 

Reub  glanced  at  his  watch  and  found  that  it 
was  a  few  minutes  past  four,  and  reminded  Mar- 
thy that  it  would  take  them  every  bit  of  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour  to  get  down  the  mountain. 

Then,  drawing  his  testament  from  his  pocket, 
he  went  softlv  to  the  bedside,  sat  down  and  read 
the  inimitable  group  of  parables  found  in  the 
fifteenth  chapter  of  Luke,  in  which  our  Saviour 


42 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


sought  to  help  us  rightly  to  estimate  the  value  of 
a  human  soul. 

Marthv  lay  quiet  for  a  few  moments,  her 
attention  evidently  arrested  by  Reub's  voice. 
She  turned  her  head  slowly,  and  tried  to  speak, 
while  a  faint  smile  hovered  about  her  mouth. 

Marthy,  standing  behind  Eeub's  chair,  saw 
that  she  was  trying  to  say  something.  She  put 
a  spoonful  of  water  into  the  parched  mouth,  and 
Mandy,  after  swallowing  it,  said  faintly, 
^'Preacher — w'at's — dem — words  ?" 

Reuben  leaned  over  and  listened,  but  did  not 
understand  her.  Marthy,  however,  whispered 
to  him  quickly,  "John  iii.  16." 

"God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only 
begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  on  him 
should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life," 
repeated  Reub,  slowly  and  reverently. 

She  listened  evidently,  and  though  she  was  so 
weak,  her  mind  was  clear,  for  a  few  moments 
later  she  said,  "Me too  ?" 

"Yes,  you  too,  Mandy.  'Wliosoever,'  it  says. 
You  are  a  sinner.  He  is  the  Saviour.  He  is 
willing ;   are  voii  ?" 

There  was  a  quiver  about  the  hard  mouth,  but 
she  did  not  speak. 

"Pray,  Reub !"  said  Marthy  softly,  and  they 
knelt  beside  the  dying  woman,  and  Reub  plead 


Reuben  Delton^  Preacher.  43 

for  her,  and  committed  to  the  mercj  of  him  who 
died  for  her. 

The  whole  scene  stamped  itself  ineffacably 
upon  ]\rarthy's  memory.  The  dying  woman,  on 
her  miserable  bed,  the  bare  and  wretched  room 
in  which  her  life  was  passing,  the  afternoon  sun- 
light streaming  into  the  open  door,  the  pure 
breeze  that  toyed  with  the  curling  hair  of  Lin- 
nie,  kneeling  near  the  door ;  Eeub's  earnest, 
uplifted  face ;  and,  to  other  eyes,  her  own  sweet 
face,  turned  watchfully  toward  the  patient, 
would  have  been  seized  upon  as  probably  the 
most  impressive  feature  of  the  whole  picture. 

Eeub  uttered  but  a  few  short,  simple  sen- 
tences, that  a  little  child  might  have  compre- 
hended ;  then  they  rose,  and,  as  she  was  lying 
quiet,  they  went  outside  to  consult  as  to  who 
would  care  for  her  during  the  night. 

"Eeub,  I  am  sure  that  I  ought  to  stay,"  said 
Marthy,  quietly ;  "you  can  take  care  of  Greyson. 
There  is  plenty  of  bread  in  the  house,  and  all 
you  need  is  to  make  the  coffee,  which  I  know 
that  you  can  do  nicely,"  she  added,  with  a  little 
pat  on  his  arm. 

"Oh !  then  I  can  stay,"  said  Linnie,  eagerly. 
"I  have  wanted  to  stay  all  along,  but  knew 
nobody  would  consent  unless  some  one  else 
stayed." 


44  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

Hevih  and  Marthj  exchanged  glances  of  admi- 
ration at  Linnie's  unselfisli  offer. 

Reuben  hesitated ;  indeed,  he  was  really 
afraid  to  leave  them  here,  with  no  man  about. 

^^This  is  the  Master's  work,  preacher;  it  is 
what  we  vowed  to  do  when  we  came  here/'  said 
llarthy  earnestly. 

While  thev  stood  waitins;  for  Renb's  consent, 
there  was  a  sound  of  some  one  approaching 
on  horseback,  and  soon  the  doctor  came  in 
sight,  and  hitching  his  horse,  came  up  to  the 
cabin. 

He  was  not  surprised  to  see  Reuben  here,  for 
he  had  learned  to  look  for  him  wherever  there 
was  sickness  or  trouble,  and  he  had  often  found 
Marthy,  too,  but  he  opened  his  eyes  with  aston- 
ishment when  he  saw  Linnie  Farnham. 

"You  here !"  he  exclaimed,  and  Marthy^s 
quick  eye  noted,  not  only  the  blending  of  pleas- 
ure and  anxiety  in  his  face,  but  the  responsive 
flush  on  Linda's  cheek. 

'^Well,"  he  said  to  Marthy,  "your  religion 
takes  you  all  pretty  far  away  from  home,  Mrs. 
Delton." 

"It  takes  us  no  further  than  we  ought  to  go, 
Dr.  Thornly,  nor  than  our  Master  went  to  save 
and  to  bless." 

"Doctor,"  said  Reub,  "these  people  are  asking 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  45 

mj  consent  to  stay  up  here  all  night;  what  do 
you  think  of  it?" 

^^Well,  somebody  ought  to  stay,  and  it  looks 
like  the  willin's  ones  are  the  right  ones.  I  tell 
you ;  I've  got  to  go  over  here  on  South  Fork, 
but  I'll  come  back  some  time  in  the  night ;  that 
is,  if  you  can  give  me  a  snack  for  supper/' 

"We've  got  meat  and  bread  and  coffee  enoug'h 
to  give  a  party,"  was  the  hospitable  reply. 

"Well,  Marthy,  you'll  have  to  stay,  I  reckon. 
She's  a  great  little  woman.  Doctor,  if  I  do  say 
it,"  he  added,  as  he  smiled  down  at  her  and 
patted  her  shoulder  caressingly. 

Dr.  Thornly  looked  at  them  earnestly,  then 
glanced  at  Linnie  Farnham,  and  Marthy 
thought  there  was  a  great  deal  in  that  glance. 

"I  might  ha'  knoAvn  you  all  had  been  here, 
even  if  you'd  got  away  before  I  came,"  the  doc- 
tor said  as  he  noted  the  clean  sheets,  and  the 
clean  clothing  on  Mandy. 

"Don't  credit  me  with  all  that  you  see ;  Lin- 
nie was  here  when  we  came,  and  had  put  clean 
sheets  on  the  bed." 

"Yes,  and  Mrs.  Belvin  had  been  before  me, 
had  burnt  up  the  old  mattress,  and  had  made  a 
new  one,"  said  Linnie,  with  a  smile  and  a  little 
toss  of  her  head,  that  reserved  for  Dr.  Thornly' s 
special  benefit. 


4-6  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

"So  you  see,  Doctor,  there  are  more  of  what 
you  call  every-day  Christians  than  yon  think." 

"The  Lord  knows,  there's  need  of  'em !"  re- 
plied the  doctor  gravely.  "I  tell  yon,  Mrs.  Del- 
ton,  the  sin  an'  the  misery,  and  the  want  that  I 
come  up  with  a'most  every  day  of  my  practice 
is  enough  to  make  a  man  question  what  good  the 
church  is  doin'.  An'  when  somebody  comes 
along  an'  gets  to  talkin'  about  the  heathen  in 
foreign  parts,  I  say  let's  better  take  care  of  the 
heathen  at  home ;  an'  if  I  had  time  to  tell  'em  a 
few  things  that  I  know,  they'd  shut  up  in  a 
minute,  you  bet." 

"That  is  all  true.  Doctor,  only  too  true;  but 
I  will  quote  my  Master's  words  to  you :  "These 
ought  ye  to  have  done,  and  not  to  leave  the  other 
undone." 

"We  cannot  escape  the  Master's  command  to 
go,  because  there  is  so  much  to  be  done  at  home. 
There  are  Christians  enough  for  all  the  work,  if 
only  they  would  work.  The  sin  of  the  church 
lies  just  here,  that  we  do  not  believe  strongly 
enough  that  every  saved  man  ought  to  be  a  saver. 
There  are  men  and  women,  too,  thank  God,  who 
are  plainly  called  to  go  forth  to  other  lands,  as 
there  are  other  men  and  women,  like  Marthy 
and  myself,  who  are  as  clearly  called  to  stay  at 
home,  and  work  among  their  own  people."    Reu- 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  47 

ben  glanced  quickly  at  Martliy  when  he  said 
this,  thinking  she  might  infer  that  he  meant  it 
literally,  but  he  only  paused  a  moment. 

^^I  think,  therefore,''  he  continued,  ^'^that 
every  Christian  man  and  woman  is,  or  ought  to 
be,  a  worker;  every  mountain  boy  that  has 
found  Jesus  the  ]\Iessiah  should  be  an  Andrew 
to  lead  his  brother  to  Christ,  and  every  doctor" 
- — here  he  fixed  his  clear  grey  eyes  on  Dr. 
Thornly — "every  doctor  in  the  mountains  has 
the  grandest  opportunities  for  service  that  I 
know  of." 

Dr.  Thornlv  looked  out  throuaii  the  doorwav 
silently.  He  knew  this  was  so,  and  as  he  felt 
more  and  more  the  stimulating  influence  of 
Reub  Delton  and  his  wife,  and  knew  that  their 
convictions  were  sufficiently  strong  to  compel 
them  to  live  for  others  in  their  efforts  to  be  like 
Christ,  he  was  more  and  more  conscious  of  a 
desire  to  be  like  them.  The  greatest  difficulty 
in  his  way  was  that  he  had  so  long  made  the  in- 
consistencies of  others  an  excuse  that  he  was 
now  afraid  to  make  a  profession  which  he,  too, 
might  not  be  able  to  live  up  to. 

The  tyj)e  of  church  members  he  had  met,  and 
the  type  of  preacher,  heretofore,  had  not,  as  a 
rule,  been  calculated  to  change  his  opinions. 
With  most  of  them  religion  meant  little  more 


48 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


than  sectarianism,  and  the  Bible  seemed  to 
have  much  less  influence  on  their  lives  than  the 
opinions  they  had  themselves  formed,  and  Avere 
all  rooted  in  the  conviction — not,  alas !  confined 
to  them — that  man's  chief  end  is — to  take  care 
of  himself !'' 

"I  must  be  going,"  said  Renb.  Greyson  will 
grow  sleepy  and  cross,  even  with  his  dear 
"Betchie."  ^ 

"And  I  will  come  down  with  Linnie  in  the 
morning,  as  soon  as  Mrs.  Belvin  comes  to  relieve 
us.  We  have  all  that  we  need  in  the  wav  of 
food,  and  I  brought  a  cup  and  plate  and  spoons." 

Dr.  Thornly  went  once  more  to  the  bedside, 
and  laid  his  hand  on  Mandy's  pulse.  She  lay  as 
still,  almost,  as  if  she  was  dead,  with  her  eyes 
half  closed  and  her  mouth  open. 

"She  is  very  weak  now,  for  the  fever  is  leav- 
ing her.  She  is  liable  to  drop  off  at  any  time," 
he  said  as  he  stepped  softly  towards  where  Mar- 
thy  and  Linnie  were  standing,  near  the  door. 

"I  will  go  now,  and  come  back  as  soon  as  I 


can 


7? 


A  few  minutes  later  Bob  Farnham  rode  up 
and  called  Linnie  out. 

"Come  out,  sis' ;  I  didn't  mean  to  keep  you 
waiting  so  long,  but  some  of  the  cows  had 
strayed  off." 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  49 

"Why,  and  I'm  going  to  stay  up  here  to- 
night. Mrs.  Delton  is  here  with  me.  Mandy 
is  about  to  die,  and  we  can't  leave  her.  Mr. 
Delton  and  Dr.  Thornly  have  just  gone." 

Bob  rarnham  did  not  approve  of  his  sister 
staying.  Mandy  had  so  bad  a  reputation,  and 
some  of  the  worst  men  in  the  countv  had  been 
known  to  have  been  harbored  there  from  time  to 
time,  but  Bob  held  the  common  opinion  of  the 
neighborhood,  that  nothing  bad  could  happen 
where  either  of  the  Delton's  were. 

"Well,  I  reckon  you'll  have  to  stay;  but  I 
don't  know  how  pa'll  like  it,  and  I  am  bound  to 

go  d0A\Tl." 

"Why,  the  doctor  said  he  was  coming  back 
sometime  in  the  night,"  said  Linnie  trying  to 
look  unconcerned. 

Bob  laughed  and  winked  his  eye  at  his  sis- 
ter. 

"Dr.  Thornly's  mighty  anxious  'bout  Mandy, 
eh !  sis'  ?" 

"Isow,  Bob !  you  stop  your  foolishness,  and 
cut  us  some  kindlin'  and  bring  in  some  wood, 
too,  before  you  go,"  was  Linnie' s  reply,  with  a 
pretty  toss  of  her  head. 

"I  wonder  how  she  kept  in  wood,  Mrs.  Del- 
ton  ?" 

^I  guess  she  uses  fence  rails,  sis',  for  I  know 


((- 


50  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

there's  a  lot  of  'em  missin'/'  was  Bob's  reply  to 
tlie  question. 

"Poor  woman/'  said  Martliv,  "we  wouldn't 
have  been  any  better  than  she  is  if  we  had  no  bet- 
ter  raising  than  she  had.  We  oughtn't  to  forget 
that,  Bob,  when  we  are  judging  Mandv,  and 
now  she  is  going  where  there  will  be  no  mistaken 
judgments,  and  we  believe  that  he  who  has  had 
compassion  on  us  will  pity  her  too." 

Bob's  face  had  grown  very  grave,  and  ho 
turned  away,  and  went  down  the  mountain, 
thinking  of  what  Marthy  had  said. 


1 


CHAPTEK  III. 

A  Strange  Visitor. 

THAT   was   a   memorable  night-watch   that 
Marthy   and   Linnie  Farnham   passed   in 
the  cabin  of  the  dying  woman. 

The  room  was  really  more  lighted  by  the  fire 
than  bv  the  candle,  which,  for  want  of  a  candle- 

o  7  7 

stick,  they  had  set  np  on  a  board  in  the  corner 
of  the  room,  first  dropping  the  hot  tallow  on  the 
board  to  make  the  candle  stand  steadily. 

As  the  night  came  on,  the  air  grew  very  cold, 
and  Linnie  made  a  large  fire.  Then,  having  first 
given  the  kettle  and  coffee  pot  a  good  scrubbing, 
she  proceeded  to  make  the  coffee  for  their  snj> 
per.  There  was  not  a  table  in  the  house,  and 
only  one  decent  chair.  A  dingy,  heavy  chest, 
about  four  feet  long,  which  they  supposed  con- 
tained clothing,  was  set  on  one  side  the  fire 
place,  and  had  evidently  served  as  the  table  on 
which  poor  Mandy  had  eaten  such  meals  as  she 
ate  at  home,  for  it  was  greasy,  and  there  were 
crumbs  of  mouldy  bread  on  it. 

There  was  not  a  whole  plate  to  be  found,  nor 
was  there  a  cup  besides  the  dirty  tin  cup  they 


52 


Reuben  DeUo7i,  Preacher. 


found  on  the  shelf  above  the  fire  place,  and  had 
scrubbed  into  something  like  cleanness. 

JSTot  one  of  those  comfoi-ts,  which  are  found 
even  in  some  of  the  barest  homes  they  had  en- 
tered, did  these  young  women  find  here. 

"It  was  well  you  thoug'ht  to  bring  a  cup  and 
saucer,  and  spoons,  Mrs.  Delton.  Why  I  never 
knew  anybody  could  live  on  so  little.'' 

"And,  oh  !  dear,  just  think,  she  is  going  out 
of  the  world  without  ever  having  known  the 
sweetness  and  the  comfort  of  a  clean,  pure  home 
— without  anything  that  makes  a  woman  self- 
respectful,  or  to  help  to  be  what  God  surely  in- 
tended everv  one  of  his  creatures  to  be  V 

"It  was  her  own  fault,  I  reckon ;   wasn't  it  ?" 

Linnie  did  not  say  this  with  any  lack  of  pity, 
or  from  any  scorn  of  the  miserable  creature  in 
her  heart. 

"Ah !  there  is  the  terrible  thought  to  me,"  re- 
plied Marthy  earnestly;  ''was  it  her  fault  alto- 
gether? Will  God  not  hold  every  one  of  us 
responsible  who  might  have  helped  her  more, 
who  might  have  borne  more  patiently  with  her 
trying  ways,  and  who  might  have  led  her  to 
Christ  ?"  Marthy  Delton's  eyes  filled  with  tears 
of  pity,  and  of  sincere  contrition,  as  she  spoke. 

"Oh !  don't  say  so,  Mrs.  Delton,  please !"  ex- 
claimed Linnie  in  low,  but  earnest,  tones.     "She 


Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  53 

was  so  awful  bad  when  she  first  came  into  our 
neighborhood  that  we  children  were  scared  to  go 
near  her.  She's  been  better  since  you  came  here, 
and  everybody  knows  that  Mr.  Delton  and  you 
have  borne  more  from  her  than  any  one  else. 
I  heard  pa'  talkin'  about  it  when  he  came  back 
from  the  store,  and  told  us  Mrs.  Belvin  said  she 
was  sick." 

There  was  the  sound  of  a  moan,  and  Marthy 
went  quickly  to  the  bedside.  Mandy's  eyes  were 
open,  and  bending  over  her  Marthy  moistened 
her  lips,  and  said,  "What  is  it,  Mandy  ?  Here's 
Marthy  Delton  come  to  wait  on  you." 

In  the  flickering  firelight  Marthy  must  have 
seemed  an  unearthly  visitor  to  the  eyes  all  un- 
used to  a  woman's  presence  near  her. 

Gimme-a-drink,"  she  said  feebly.  Marthy 
moved  quickly  to  the  fire  place,  with  her  finger 
on  her  lip  by  way  of  caution  to  Linnie,  then 
motioned  for  a  cup  of  hot  milk.  She  fed  the 
poor  creature  with  this  slowly. 

"That  tastes  good  ?"  asked  Marthy.  In  reply 
the  woman  tried  to  nod  her  head ;  then,  rallying 
her  strength,  she  looked  at  Marthy  earnestly, 
and  said,  "How'd-you-git-here  ?" 

"Whv,  Mr.  Delton  and  I  came  as  soon  as  we 
heard  you  were  sick." 

"Wat  fur  ?" 


54  Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 

"Because  we  wanted  to  help  jow,  and  to  wait 
on  yon." 

"I  ain't  wnth  helpin'/'  she  said,  Avith  a  deep 
sigh.  Then,  touching  the  cool,  clean  sheet  that 
Linnie  had  put  on  her  bed,  she  asked,  "Wat's 
this  yer  on  me?" 

"Why,  that  is  a  nice,  clean  sheet  that  Mrs. 
Farnham  sent  you,"  answered  Marthj^,  in  her 
cheery  yoice. 

Mandy  lay  still  a  moment,  with  her  eyes 
closed ;  then,  opening  them  suddenly,  she  asked, 
"Be  I  goin'  ter  die  ?" 

Marthy  was  startled  by  the  question,  and  did 
not  know  how  it  might  affect  the  poor  creature, 
in  her  present  condition,  to  know  the  truth,  and 
yet  she  dared  not  deceiye  her. 

"You  are  yery  sick,  Mandy,  and  the  doctor 
does  not  think  that  you  can  liye." 

"I  ain't  fitten  ter  die,"  she  muniiured,  with 
a  groan. 

"You  need  not  be  afraid  to  die  if  you  will  be- 
lieye  that  Jesus  is  your  Sayiour,  and  ask  him  to 
saye  your  soul." 

"I  hain't  neyer  don'  nothin'  fur  him.  I  don' 
'low  he'd  hear  me;  say  dem  words  ag'in." 

Marthy  again  repeated  slowly  the  wonderful 
words  of  John  iii.  16,  that  haye  cheered  so  many 
souls,  and  the  poor  creature  said,  faintly,  after 
her,  "^ot  perish — eyerlastin'  life." 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  55 

"Wat  do  that  mean  ?"  and  Marthv  tried  to 
explain  again  to  her  poor  clouded  mind  what 
she  had  told  her  when  she  had  been  in  health. 

"Oh !  mammie !"  she  nttered  again. 

"Where  is  Your  mammie  ?"  asked  Marthv,  for 
no  one  knew  where  this  poor  waif  had  come 
from,  or  where  her  kindred  were. 

"Dead,  I  reckon." 

"AVhere  was  your  home?"  Marthv  bent  over 
her  to  catch  the  answer. 

"Over  in  Tennessee  "  she  answered  restlessly. 
Evidentlv  it  disturbed  her  to  talk  of  her  own 
affairs.  Her  fever  was  rising,  and  ]\Iarthy 
feared  the  delirium  would  come  on  again,  and 
her  last  opportunity  to  turn  the  eyes  of  the  dying 
woman  to  Christ. 

Some  would  say.  Let  her  alone ;  but  Marthy's 
strong  convictions  of  the  necessity  of  a  confes- 
sion of  Christ,  and  her  strong  faith  in  the  simple 
look  of  faith,  made  her  sure  she  was  right  to  say 
once  more,  "Mandy,  Jesus  died  to  save  you. 
Can't  you  take  him  for  vour  Saviour  ?  Then  he 
has  promised  to  be  with  you  in  death." 

"I  kin  trust  him,  but  kin  he  trust  me?"  she 
answered,  turnino-  her  eves  to  Marthv,  with 
more  intellioence  in  her  face  than  she  had  vet 
shown.  "You  don'  know  me,  Marthy  Delton ;  I 
'ain't  wuth  savin' !" 


56  Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 

"Jesus  does  not  save  us  because  we  are  worth 
saving,  but  just  because  be  loves  to  save.  The 
best  of  us  can't  be  saved,  except  by  trusting  in 
bim.     Can't  vou  do  tbat?" 

Mandy  tried  to  smile,  and  to  sj^eak,  but  only 
said  the  word,  "Sing !" 

Marthy  laid  her  hand  on  the  rough,  ill-shapen 
one  that  was  restlessly  catching  at  the  covering, 
and  began  to  sing  softly — 

"  I  am  so  glad  that  our  Father  in  heaven 
Tells  of  his  love  in  the  Book  he  has  given; 
Wonderful  things  in  the  Bible  I  see, 
This  is  the  dearest,  that  Jesus  loves  me. 

I  am  so  glad  that  Jesus  loves  me, 

Jesus  loves  even  me! 

"Oh!  if  there's  only  one  song  I  can  sing. 
When  in  his  beauty  I  see  the  great  King; 
This  shall  my  song  in  eternity  be, 
Oh!  what  a  wonder  that  Jesus  loves  me! 

I  am  so  glad  that  Jesus  loves  me, 

Jesus  loves  even  me!" 

Mandy  lay  quietly,  and  seemed  to  have  fallen 
asleep,  and  Marthy  rose  and  went  over  to  the 
fire  place  to  take  the  cup  of  coffee  which  had 
been  ready  for  her  before  she  had  gone  to 
Mandv's  side. 

She  looked  at  her  watch,  and  found  that  it 
was  onlv  a  little  after  ten  o'clock.  She  was 
speaking  to  Linnie  in  a  whisper,  when  suddenly 


Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  57 

they  heard  a  low  growl  from  the  dog,  which  lay 
curled  in  the  corner  of  the  fire  place.  Then 
there  were  sounds  of  stealthy  footsteps,  and  Lin- 
nie's  face  blanched  with  fear,  for  these  sounds 
were  not  at  the  door,  hut  at  the  small  window 
not  far  from  where  she  was  sitting. 

Marthy's  heart  throbbed  wildly  for  a  moment, 
for  she  knew  all  that  had  been  said  about 
Mandy's  harboring  the  worst  men  in  the  county, 
but  she  sent  a  swift  prayer  to  heaven,  and  who 
doubts  that  it  was  heard  ? 

She  said  aftei^vards  that  she  was  conscious  of 
an  immediate  answer,  for  the  throbbing  of  her 
heart  subsided,  though,  when  she  looked  towards 
the  window,  she  saw  the  faded  curtain  lifted 
cautiously  by  a  rough  hand,  and  directly  a  wild 
face  looked  in. 

Without  a  moment's  forethought,  without  a 
moment's  hesitation,  she  placed  her  finger  on  her 
lips,  as  a  sign  to  the  man  to  be  quiet,  just  as 
she  would  have  done  to  Reub  or  to  the  doctor, 
and  said  in  low  tones,  and  with  perfect  self- 
control,  ^^Please  come  'round  to  the  door,  if  you 
want  anything.  Mandy  Snoggs  is  very  sick,  and 
if  you  startle  her,  it  might  kill  her." 

The  man  was  evidently  taken  aback  by  this 
cool  and  friendly  speech,  as  well  as  by  these 
unusual  guests  in  Mandy's  cabin. 


58  Eeuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 

He  stared  at  Martliv,  and  at  the  top  of  Liii- 
nie's  head,  which  was  all  he  could  see  of  her. 
The  poor  girl  was  sitting  with  her  hands  clasped 
in  her  lap,  and  her  eyes  shut  tight  with  fear. 

The  door  was  partly  open  for  ventilation,  but 
thev  had  closed  the  window  to  keep  out  the  cold 
mists  that  came  down  the  mountain. 

After  the  unwelcome  visitor  had  looked  from 
the  watchers  to  the  bed,  and  then  into  the  dusky 
part  of  the  room,  he  disappeared,  and  in  another 
moment  was  at  the  door. 

"Don't  let  liim  see  that  vou  are  frightened, 
Linnie,  our  lives  may  depend  upon  our  cool- 
ness," ]\Iarthy  had  whispered,  as  he  left  the 
window. 

She  went  towards  the  door,  as  he  aj^peared, 
and  said,  "What  do  vou  want  ?  Mandv  has 
typhoid  fever,  and  Ave  are  nursing  her.  I  am 
Marthy  Delton,  the  preacher's  wife,  and  that  is 
'Squire  Farnham's  daughter,  and  Dr.  Thornly 
will  be  here  in  a  little  while.  I  am  sorrv,"  she 
said,  as  she  saw  him  lift  his  foot  to  come  in ;  "I 
am  sorry  I  can't  ask  you  to  come  in."  Marthy 
even  smiled  as  she  said  it,  Linnie  said  after- 
wards ;  "but  I  can  give  you  something  to  eat  and 
some  coffee." 

In  all  his  wild  career,  Dan  Ruger  had  never 
met  with  such  an  experience.     It  actually  took 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  59 

every  bit  of  his  braggadocio  from  him.  He  was 
ashamed  for  the  first  time  in  his  life ! 

'^You're  a  plucky  one,  sartain/'  he  said,  smil- 
ing at  Marthy.  "You-uns's  got  some  kinder 
weepons  that  hain't  never  been  turned  on  me 
befo'j  and'  I  swar  I  don'  know  how  ter  git  even 
wid  ye !" 

He  looked  behind  him  a  moment,  and  lis- 
tened, then  he  said,  "You're  afeerd  fur  me  to 
come  in,  but  you're  too  plucky  ter  say  so ;  I  come 
here  fur  grub,  an'  fur  ter  git  warm,  an'  ter 
sleep  too,  but  ef  Mandy's  do^^m  wid  ther  fever, 
I  don'  want  ter  stay,  particklar  ef  you  say  true 
that  Thornly's  comin'.  Xot  as  I'm  afeerd  of 
him,"  he  added  quickly,  as  if  Marthy's  courage 
had  quickened  his  own,"  but  he'll  set  some  houn' 
on  my  tracks.  You-uns  give  me  ther  grub  an' 
I'll  go,  but  I'd  like  mightily  ter  git  warm  fust." 
He  looked  towards  the  fire  and  shivered. 

"I'm  sorry,"  said  Marthy,  as  she  turned  to 
get  something  for  him  to  eat ;  then  she  looked  at 
him  fearlessly  out  of  her  pure  brown  eyes,  and 
said  gently,  "I'm  sorry  you  have  no  home  to  go 
to.  God  never  meant  for  any  man  to  be  home- 
less." 

The  light  of  evil  passion  and  of  defiance 
flashed  up  in  the  man's  face,  but  the  unseen 
Presence  beside  Marthy  kept  them  as  effectually 


60  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

in  check  as  if  he  had  been  in  chains.  His  eye 
drooped  before  the  pure  and  fearless  look  in  the 
face  before  him.  Martliy  gave  him  a  handful 
of  bread  and  meat,  and  a  cup  of  coffee,  with  an 
expression  of  pity  in  her  face  that  was  almost 
divine.  He  took  the  food,  almost  sullenly ;  then 
said,  ^^I  was  goin'  ter  say,  it's  none  of  your  busi- 
ness, but  maybe  it  is,  for  you  think  so.  But 
you're  the  fust  person  as  has  had  a  kind  word 
fur  me  in  ten  years,"  and  he  giilped  down 
the  coffee,  as  if  to  hide  some  unwonted  emo- 
tion. 

^^Whose  fault  is  it?"  asked  Marthy  gently, 
and  then  before  he  could  reply,  she  added, 
"Come  down  to  our  house ;  Preacher  Helton  is 
everybody's  friend,  and  will  give  you  many  a 
kind  word." 

"ISTo !"  he  answered  bitterly ;  "every  one  of 
you'd  hand  me  over  ter  the  sheriff  if  you  could 
git  a  chance.  I  never  did  take  no  stock  in 
preachin'  no  how,  but  your  religion's  a  horse  of 
another  color." 

Just  then  Mandy's  moan  made  the  man  start. 
He  bent  his  head  and  listened  intently,  and  his 
keen  ear  must  have  detected  some  sound,  for  he 
handed  the  cup  quickly  to  Marthy,  and  in  an- 
other minute  was  gone. 

Five  minutes  later  Hr.  Thornly  was  hitching 


Beuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  61 

his  liorse  at  the  fence,  little  dreaming  that  he 
had  come  in  answer  to  prayer. 

He  came  quickly  to  the  cabin,  more  anxions 
than  he  would  have  acknowledged,  for  the  safety 
of  the  two  brave  women  there. 

He  tapped  softly,  but  the  dog  had  already 
given  warning  of  the  approach  of  some  one,  and 
both  Marthy  and  Linnie  were  standing  with 
their  faces  anxiously  turned  to  the  door  when 
he  looked  in. 

"Come  in !"  beckoned  Marthy,  with  a  smile 
of  more  than  ordinary  welcome  on  her  face,  and 
to  which  Linnie  Farnham  did  not  hesitate  to  add 
her  own. 

"You  never  were  as  welcome  in  your  life, 
Doctor,  I  know,"  said  Marthy  in  hearty  tones. 

Dr.  Thornly  saw  that  something  had  occurred 
of  more  than  ordinary  interest,  and,  looking 
from  one  to  the  other,  h©  asked,  "What's  the 
matter  V^ 

He  glanced  towards  the  bed ;  a  moan  proved 
to  him  that  Mandy  was  still  living. 

"Go,  see  how  Mandy  is  first,  then  sit  down 
and  get  warm,  while  we  tell  you  of  our  adven- 
ture." 

When  he  returned  from  the  bedside,  he  took 
the  only  chair  strong  enough  to  bear  his  power- 
ful figure,  and  while  Linnie  made  his  coffee 


(i^  Beuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 

Martlij  told  him  in  a  few  words  of  tlieir  ad- 
venture. 

He  listened  with  intense  interest,  glancing  up 
occasionally  to  the  little  window  behind  them. 

"Xow  describe  him,  please,  Mrs.  Delton.'' 

^'AVell,  he  was  tall  and  thin,  with  black  hair, 
and  a  shaggy  beard,  and  monstache  that  seemed 
faded  in  color,  by  comparison  with  his  hair. 
His  eyes  seemed  black.  He  wore  a  faded,  rag- 
ged suit  of  jeans,  and  over  it  a  curious  garment, 
evidently  made  bv  himself;  it  seemed  just  a 
blanket  with  holes  cut  in  it  for  his  arms  and 
head.  His  hat  was  tied  down  over  his  ears  with 
a  red  handkerchief." 

^^Well,  well !  I  say!"  exclaimed  Dr.  Thornlv; 
"if  you  all  haven't  been  interviewing  the  worst 
fellow  in  the  country.  Why,  it  was  Dan  Ruger, 
sure !" 

His  face  actually  paled  as  he  said  this. 

"Why,  he  generally  goes  armed  to  the  teeth, 
as  the  savin'  is,  and  whv  he  didn't  murder  both 
of  you,  or  run  off  with  one  of  you,  God  knows." 

"I  think  I  know  why,"  said  Marthy  gently. 
"God  surely  heard  the  prayer  that  went  up  as 
quickly  as  a  telegraphic  message,  when  that 
face  looked  in  at  the  window.  Oh  !  Dr.  Thornly, 
don't  you  believe  that?" 

The  doctor  looked  gravely  into  the  fire  when 


Reuhen  Delton,  P readier.  6^ 

MartliY  questioned  liim  so  pointedly,  tlien  an- 
swered thonghtfully,  ^'I  surely  ought  to  believe 
it  now,  if  I  never  did  before.  But,  Mrs.  Delton, 
I  am  not  sure  that  it  is  safe  for  you  all  to  stay 
up  here  the  rest  of  the  night,  even  if  I  stay  w^ith 
you.  There's  no  telling  what  Dan  Huger  may 
do.  He  may  have  just  gone  off  to  get  some  other 
fellows  to  return  with  him." 

Linnie  who  was  kneeling  on  the  hearth,  and 
pouring  the  coffee,  set  down  the  pot  and  cup,  her 
hands  trembled,  and  she  glanced  uneasily  at 
Marthy. 

"Why,  Dr.  Thornly !  leave  that  poor,  dying 
creature  alone,  and  after  we  came  up  here  to 
prove  our  love  to  the  Master,  to  desert  her  just 
from  fear  I  Besides,  I  have  no  fear  now.  I  be- 
lieve that  I  won  his  respect;  he  w411  not  harm 
us.     Do  not  ask  us  to  go." 

The  man  looked  into  Marthv's  earnest,  brave 
face,  and — as  he  said  afterwards — saw  what 
religion  was  good  for  from  that  time. 

"Well,  we'll  all  stay  and  risk  it  together,"  he 
replied,  as  he  took  the  cup  of  coffee  from  Lin- 
nie's  hand. 

It  was  fully  twelve  o'clock  when  Dr.  Thornly 
finished  the  lunch  they  had  prepared  for  him. 

Mandy  Snoggs'  life  was  near  its  close.  Occa- 
sionally, as  the  night  wore  on,  the  doctor  stepped 


64 


Beiiben  Delion,  Preacher. 


to  the  bedside,  testing  the  dying  woman's  pulse, 
and  her  temperature. 

Marthy  and  Linnie  had  improvised  a  seat  by 
throwing  a  shawl  over  the  small  pile  of  wood, 
and  had  given  the  only  safe  chair  to  the  doctor. 

The  wind  had  risen,  and  whistled  around  the 
open  cabin,  as  if  it  was  ISTovember. 

Everv  sound  from  outside  cauo'ht  Dr.  Thorn- 
ly's  attention,  so  confidently  did  he  expect  Dan 
Ruger  with  reinforcements ;  but  he  never  came, 
and  Marthv's  faith  was  confirmed. 

A  little  after  day  had  dawned,  poor  Mandy 
passed  from  the  scene  of  all  her  sin  and  wretch- 
edness. Marthy  believed  that  in  her  poor,  crude 
way,  this  woman,  who  was  a  sinner,  had  accepted 
Jesus  as  her  Saviour.  Who  can  tell  what  goes 
on  between  the  soul  and  its  Maker  in  those  hours 
when  the  body  is  under  the  power  of  disease  ? 

Once  she  had  roused  out  of  the  stupor,  and 
had  murmured  the  words,  "Even — me !''  Evi- 
dentlv  she  had  causrht  the  last  words  of  the 
hymn  that  had  been  sung  to  her. 

A  half  hour  later,  as  Marthv  stood  in  the  door- 
way  of  the  cabin,  and  looked  out  on  the  glory 
of  the  fair  summer  morning,  with  the  flush  of 
sunrise  on  its  beautiful  face,  and  the  songs  of 
birds  greeting  her  ear,  while  the  fresh  breeze 
fanned  her  face,  she  could  but  think  the  scene 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  65 

was  typical  of  the  exchange  Mandy's  spirit  had 
made,  from  its  grimed  and  sin-marred  dwelling 
to  the  glory  and  beauty  of  heaven. 

Two  neighbors  came  in  not  long  afterwards, 
and  Dr.  Thornly  urged  on  Marthy  and  Linnie  to 
go  at  once,  as  they  needed  rest. 

'^Everything  in  the  house  ought  to  be  burned. 
This  was  a  bad  case  of  fever  from  the  first." 

'^Shall  we  open  the  chest?  There  may  bo 
something  there  worth  saving,''  said  Marthy. 

Linnie  remembered  that  when  she  had  put 
the  gown  on  Mandy,  she  had  seen  a  string  about 
her  neck,  and  she  spoke  of  it  as  the  doctor 
doubted  whether  they  could  get  the  box  opened. 

Marthy  went  to  the  bed,  and  touching  rever- 
ently the  dead  woman,  saw  the  string,  and  draw- 
ing it  out,  found  a  key. 

Opening  the  box  with  difficulty,  because  the 
padlock  was  so  rusty,  they  found  within  a  few 
pieces  of  ragged  clothing,  and  a  mixture  of  little 
trinkets,  Christmas  cards,  and  common  rings. 
A  small  bag,  found  inside  of  an  old  shoe,  con- 
tained about  ten  dollars  in  money.  Two  faded 
ferrotypes,  one  of  a  good-natured  middle-aged 
man,  the  other  of  a  rather  pretty,  round-faced 
girl,  adorned  with  a  bright  smile,  and  an  abun- 
dance of  cheap  jewelry;  had  scrawled  on  their 
backs,  'Mim"  and  "Mandy."     There  was  noth- 


6(5  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


I  ^ 


ing  else  to  tell  the  woman's  story,     l^o  clue  to 
her  home,  her  name,  her  people 

And  so  ended  the  life  of  this  lone  mountain 
woman,  unwej)t,  save  for  the  pitying  tears  that 
filled  the  eyes  of  Marthy  Delton,  as  she  looked 
on  the  face  for  the  last  time.  She  went  do^Tn 
the  mountain  wondering  how  many  such  lonely, 
neglected  lives  are  hidden  away  in  the  caves  and 
valleys  of  the  mountains  that  look  so  blue  and 
fair,  as  one  gazes  at  them  only  as  a  part  of  the 
marvellous  summer  landscape,  but  which  are 
really  teeming  with  life  and  with  possibilities 
of  service  for  God's  children ! 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Kindness  Recipkocated. 

AS  Mar  thy  went  down  the  mountain  with 
Linnie  Farnham,  tired  and  worn  from 
the  night's  vigil  and  from  the  excitement  of 
their  adventure,  there  was  one  thing  that 
wanned  her  heart  as  the  sunshine  now  breaking 
through  the  fogs  warmed  her  body ;  it  was  the 
consciousness  of  having  soothed  the  last  hours  of 
poor  Mandy  Snoggs.  She  did  not  allow  herself 
to  be  troubled  as  to  Mandy's  salvation.  Reub 
and  herself  had  tried  to  lead  her  to  the  Savior, 
and  she  now  committed  her  to  that  mercy  which 
is  so  ready  to  save. 

Her  heart  was  full  of  gratitude  for  having 
been  allowed  the  privilege  of  serving  her  Master, 
even  through  such  a  sinner  as  this  one.  And  the 
trust  and  peace  that  comes  with  service  so  filled 
hor  mind  that  she  had  reached  'Squire  Farn- 
ham's  gate  before  she  had  given  a  thought  to  the 
momentous  question  that  Reuben  and  she  had 
been  called  on  to  settle. 

Mrs.  Farnham,  with  the  wonted  miountain 
hospitality,  would  fain  have  had  her  ^^come  in 


68  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

and  eat  and  rest  awhile."  But  not  only  was 
Greyson  at  home  and  Renben  obliged  to  wait  for 
her  in  order  to  make  the  arrangements  for 
Mandy's  funeral,  but  she  felt  that  she  must  be 
alone  and  have  time  to  think  of  their  o^vn  af- 
fairs. 

It  was  now  late  in  August,  the  Presbytery 
met  the  last  of  September,  and  both  Reuben  and 
Marthy  felt  that  they  ought  to  know  their  own 
minds  as  to  this  suggested  change  before  the 
meeting  of  Presb}i:ery. 

Some  one  had  told  them  of  the  plan  of  the 
venerable  Rev.  W.  S.  Plummer  when  called 
upon  to  decide  perplexing  questions.  It  was  his 
custom  to  take  a  sheet  of  paper,  and,  carefully 
dividing  it  into  two  columns,  to  write  over  one 
"Pros,"  and  over  the  other  "Cons."  He  then 
kneeled  and  devoutly  asked  for  wisdom  to  de- 
cide the  matter  rightly.  After  this  he  rose  to 
write  down  under  each  head  the  sensible  reasons 
for  and  against  the  step,  and  invariably  decided 
to  adopt  that  side  on  which  there  were  most 
reasons  for  action.  He  never  allowed  himself 
afterwards  to  regret  the  step,  or  to  doubt  that 
he  had  been  divinely  guided,  even  when  things 
seem  to  turn  out  unf  avorablv. 

They  had  been  much  impressed  with  the  sim- 
plicity and  faith  manifested  in  this  plan,  and 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  69 

resolved  to  try  it;  so  that  evening  when  supper 
was  over  and  their  little  boy  asleep,  Reub  drew 
his  chair  up  by  the  table  near  which  Marthy 
was  busily  knitting  and  said : 

"Marthy,  don't  you  think  it  is  time  we  were 
studying  what  the  Master  means  us  to  do  about 
this  call  V 

Marthy  looked  up  with  a  smile,  though  there 
was  still  a  shade  of  sadness  on  her  bright  face. 
She  laid  her  knitting  down,  and  drawing  a  writ- 
ing tablet  from  under  a  book  that  lay  near  her, 
she  handed  it  to  her  husband. 

The  page  had  already  been  ruled,  and  the 
headings,  "Pros"  and  "Cons"  written  down. 
Eeuben  smiled,  for  it  was  so  like  Marthy,  to  get 
things  ready  in  this  quiet  manner.  Probably 
Reuben  hardly  recognized  then  how  great  a 
blessing  Marthy's  quietness  was  to  him,  but  in 
later  years  he  not  only  felt  it,  but  often  spoke  of 
how  much  he  owed  to  his  wife's  quiet  faith. 
She  never  fretted,  because  she  believed  so  firmly 
that  even  the  small  threads  of  little  worries  were 
woven  into  the  plan  of  God's  providence. 

He  drew  the  paper  to  him,  and  then  they 
knelt,  and  he  asked  for  that  wisdom  which  God 
in  his  wondrous  love  had  promised  to  those  who 
believe. 

"Help  us  not  to  waver  in  our  faith !    Help  us 


TO 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


to  see  thee,  and  not  ourselves  and  our  own  com- 
fort. Make  a  plain  path  for  our  feet,  O  Lord !" 
— so  lie  prayed,  and  tlie  voung  preacher  and  his 
wife  rose  from  their  knees  with  peace  in  their 
hearts,  the  peace  that  conies  from  a  surrendered 
will  and  the  true  spirit  of  obedience. 

Then  with  a  smiling  face  Marthy  rolled  up 
her  work,  put  it  in  her  basket,  and  addressed 
herself  to  the  task  of  deciding  the  ^'Pros"  and 
"Cons"  of  this  important  question.  Here  were 
the  reasons  they  wrote  down  for  and  against 
leaving  Wautauga,  and  they  incidentally  throw 
much  light  on  the  characters  of  Reuben  Deltoii 
and  of  his  wife : 


Pro. 

1.  The  very  fact  that  it 
is  so  hard  suggests  that 
selfishness  is  stirred. 

2.  They  need  a  mountain 
man  with  a  wife  and  some 
experience,  both  of  which 
I  have. 

3.  Every  call  to  a  Chris- 
tian for  harder  work  and 
more  self-denial  is  the  Mas- 
ter's call. 

4.  God  calls  many  men 
to  sow,  but  does  not  let  all 
reap  what  their  own  hands 
have  sown. 

5.  We  have  so  few  hard- 


CON. 

1.  We  have  not  been  here 
long  enough  to  give  this 
work  into  other  hands. 

2.  There  are  other  moun- 
tain men  in  the  ministry. 
Why  should  they  rob  Wau- 
tauga to  pay  Yancey? 

3.  Sometimes  God  tests 
his  children  by  a  call  he 
does  not  mean  them  to  ac- 
cept in  order  to  try  their 
spirit. 

4.  These  people  love  us, 
and  we  have  more  and 
more  influence  with  them. 

5.  The  visitors  help  us. 


Reuben  Delton,  P readier. 


71 


and  we  help  tliem,  by  put- 
ting them  in  touch  with 
bhe  work. 

6.  Grey  son  ought  to 
know  the  sweetness  of  a 
comfortable  home. 

7.  This  is  our  home,  our 
first  home.  God  gave  it  to 
us.  It  is  right  that  we 
should  love  it  and  want  to 
stay  here. 


ships  here  we  may  be  lack- 
ing in  the  spirit  of  self-de- 
nial the  Master  wants. 

6.  The  interruption  in 
our  work  by  the  presence 
of  the  summer  visitors  is 
injurious  to  us. 

7.  The  work  here  is 
God's  work.  We  must  not 
think  it  would  stop  because 
we  leave. 

8.  If  God  is  testing  our 
love  and  spirit  of  obedi- 
ence, we  have  no  right  to 
refuse  to  stand  the  test. 

9.  We  are  called  to  en- 
dure hardness  as  good  sol- 
diers. We  dare  not  then 
refuse  this  call,  "Come  over 
and  help  us!" 

It  is  easy  to  see  that  Marthy  had  taken  as 
her  work  the  putting  down  of  the  reasons 
against  going  away.  It  was  as  if  the  soul  and 
heart  were  making  the  record  for  both.  And 
as  Reuben's  reasons  grew  stronger  and  stronger 
and  multiplied,  Marthy  could  restrain  her  tears 
no  longer.  She  put  down  the  tablet,  and,  lean- 
ing her  head  on  the  table,  she  burst  into  a  fit  of 
weeping.  Reuben  putting  his  ann  about  her 
waist,  leaned  his  head  on  the  table  beside  hers 
and  wept  too. 

They  both  felt  that  the  reasons  for  their  going 


72 


Ueuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 


were  stronger  than  tlie  reasons  for  staying, 
thoiigli  some  people  might  have  differed — people 
not  so  alert  to  restrain  self,  not  so  satisfied  as 
they  were  that  '^the  Christian  life  is  a  life 
against  nature." 

After  a  few  moments  Marthy,  always  the  first 
to  regain  control  over  herself,  lifted  her  head, 
and,  wiping  her  eyes  with  her  apron,  laid  her 
hand  gently  on  Reuben's  shoulder  and  said  in 
a  voice  tremulous  with  emotion :  '^Preacher,  we 
mustn't  forget  the  covenant  we  made  when  we 
were  married,  that  we  Avould  never  give  up  any- 
thing we  could  do  for  the  Lord  because  it  was 
too  hard,  nor  that  other  covenant  we  made  when 
baby  came,  that  we  would  never  let  him  be  our 
excuse  for  nee'lectins:  anv  work,  and  that  we 
would  teach  him  obedience  and  unselfishness  as 
soon  as  he  could  understand  us.  God  is  surely 
testing  us  now !" 

"That's  so,  little  wife!  I  feel  that  this  call 
has  more  to  do  with  our  spiritual  life  and  growth 
than  it  has,  perhaps,  with  the  work  over  the 
mountains.  We  are  God's  workers.  Maybe  he 
sees  that  we  are  going  to  be  spoiled  here,  though 
we  may  not  see  it.  You  see,  all  these  summer 
boarders  that  knew  us,  and  a  good  many  this 
season  that  didn't  know  us,  have  praised  us  and 
our  work,  and  have  helped  us,  until  I  reckon 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  73 

the  Lord  knew  that  we  were  having  too  easy  a 
time  for  our  good." 

^^It  depends  on  where  yon  stand  whether  a 
person's  life  looks  easy  or  hard,"  said  Marthy, 
sadly.  "From  where  the  summer  hoarders  see 
ns  we  do  not  seem  to  have  much  of  an  easy  time, 
hut  I  reckon  poor  Mandy  Snoggs  must  have 
thought  we  lived  in  clover." 

"Well,  we  have  looked  at  the  matter  the  hest 
we  know  how,  from  our  standpoint,'  Marthy, 
and  if  it  is  left  to  us,  we  know  how  we  will  de- 
cide now,  I  reckon.  But  you  know  Presbytery 
has  a  voice  in  the  matter,  and  the  best  thing  for 
us  to  do  now  is  to  cast  our  burden  on  the  Lord, 
and  wait  to  hear  what  the  brethren  will  say." 

"O  Reub !  what  do  vou  reckon  that  Miss 
Greyson  '11  say  ?" 

"Something  sensible  and  kind  that'll 
strengthen  us  for  whatever  is  before  us,  you 
may  be  sure." 

"Well,  I  know  I  need  strengthening  and  cheer- 
ing, and  I  mean  to  write  to  her  to-morrow,  but 
I  need  sleep  more  than  anything  else  right 
now." 

Marthy  rose  as  she  spoke  and  went  to  the 
door,  as  was  her  custom,  to  say  good  night  to  the 
view,  as  she  expressed  it. 

As  she  ojDened  the  door  a  flood  of  moonlight 


74  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

fell  upon  ber.  The  full  moon  was  well  up  in 
the  skv,  and  shone  upon  a  white  sea  of  mist  in 
which  the  space  for  a  few  hundred  yards  from 
the  house  seemed  the  only  land  visible.  Still- 
ness reigned  every^vbere,  save  for  the  occasional 
tinkle  of  a  distant  bell  telling  of  some  still  wake- 
ful sheep. 

From  the  nasturtiums  and  pansies  under  her 
windows  came  the  delicate  fragrance  Marthy 
loved  so  well,  and  as  she  enjoyed  it  by  some 
subtle  association,  she  found  herself  reminded 
of  the  dreary  cabin  of  Mandy  Snoggs — lonely 
and  deserted  to-night,  for  the  neighbors  had  re- 
moved the  bodv  to  a  house  a  mile  further  down 
the  mountain,  preparatory  to  the  funeral  the 
next  day. 

A  pitying  thought  stole  into  Marthy's  heart 
for  the  poor  outlaw  who  had  given  them  such  a 
scare,  and  then  she  remembered  that  she  had  not 
vet  told  Reub  of  her  adventure. 

tj 

She  turned  toAvards  her  husband  and  said, 
"Preacher,  were  you  conscious  of  praying  spe- 
cially for  me  last  night  V^ 

Reuben  looked  up  from  his  book.  "Why, 
Marthy  ?"  Before  she  could  reply,  he  added, 
"I  felt  considerably  nervous  about  you  and  Lin- 
nie  spendin'  the  night  up  there,  but  I  knew  Dr. 
Thornly   'd  go  back — didn't  he  ?   and  I  knew 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  75 

some  woman  folks  ought  to  stay,  and  that  no- 
body but  my  little  wife  had  faith  enough  to  stay 
with  Linnie.  "Yes,  dear,  I  prayed  very  spe- 
cially for  you,  but,  somehow,  about  ten  o'clock 
I  felt  so  relieved,  so  sure  that  God  would  pro- 
tect you,  I  just  quit  prayin'  and  fell  asleep." 

Marthy's  face  wore  a  look  of  triumph  as  she 
recounted  the  story  of  Dan  Ruger's  visit,  for 
she  felt  that  she  was  only  illustrating  the  subject 
of  answered  prayer. 

"N"ot  but  that  I  believe  that  God  would  have 
protected  me  whether  you  had  prayed  or  not,  but 
I  do  love  to  think  he  wants  us  to  pray  just  to 
show  our  dependence.  Reub,  I  felt  just  as  if  I 
was  using  one  of  those  'phones  they  have  over  at 
Blowing  Rock  when  I  uttered  that  quick  prayer 
in  my  heart,  and  it  seemed  to  me  I  could  almost 
hear  the  answer  come  back,  "I  will  keep 
thee." 

Reuben  really  looked  alarmed  when  Marthy 
told  of  her  asking  Ruger  to  come  to  their  house, 
for  he  knew  better  than  Marthy  what  a  desper- 
ado the  man  was,  and  how  it  seemed  at  times  as 
if  he  was  almost  possessed  with  the  devil.  But 
Marthy's  faith  in  Ruger's  appreciation  of  her 
kindness  could  not  be  shaken. 

The  next  dav  Reuben  held  the  funeral  ser- 
vices  of  Mandy  Snoggs  at  Evergreen  Church, 


76       .       Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 

and  they  laid  her  awaj  in  the  lonely  little  grave- 
yard on  the  mountain  side. 

He  had  made  it  an  occasion  for  preaching  of 
the  love  of  God  for  sinners.  He  called  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  that  it  was  God  who  had  put  it 
into  the  hearts  of  good  women  to  comfort  the 
dying  hours  of  this  poor  outcast,  and  added 
that  she  had  given  them  evidences  of  her  re- 
pentance and  faith. 

^^But  oh !  friends  and  neighbors,"  he  said,  his 
fine,  strong  face  lighting  with  a  blended  expres- 
sion of  intense  and  tender  pleading  with  a  touch 
of  scorn,  ^^don't  let  us  wait  until  the  last  of  lives 
spent  in  self-seeking  and  sin,  and  then  bring  to 
the  loving  and  holy  God  a  few  feeble  hours  or 
days  without  a  single  act  of  loving  service  in  re- 
turn for  all  that  he  has  given  us  !" 

''Suppose  you  should  promise  me  a  bushel  of 
apples,  and  then  should  wait  until  the  apples 
were  nearly  all  rotted  before  you  brought  them  ? 
What  would  I  think  of  you  ?  what  would  you 
think  of  yourselves  ?  God  is  very  merciful,  and 
waits  a  long  time  on  many  sinners,  but  he  is 
calling  you  to-day,  now.  Won't  you  come  to 
him  now?  Take  him  as  your  Redeemer  and 
Savior  now.     Won't  you  ?" 

Reuben's  fine  grey  eyes  were  full  of  tender 
feeling,  the  color  in  his  cheeks  was  deepening. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  11 

and  as  his  voice,  peculiarly  full  and  mellow, 
rang  out  in  this  pleading,  in  which  his  very 
heart  was  pouring  itself  out  for  the  salvation  of 
the  souls  of  these  people,  he  little  thought 
that  in  the  rhododendron  thicket  behind  the 
church  it  fell  upon  the  ears  of  the  outlaw,  Dan 
Ruger ! 

The  poor  fellow  had  seen  the  wagon  contain- 
ing Mandy's  coffin  as  it  wended  its  way  down  the 
rough  mountain  road,  and  had  followed,  lured 
by  curiosity,  as  closely  as  he  dared.  He  knew 
what  Mandy  had  been  better  than  most  people, 
and  he  was  amazed  to  find  these  Christian  peo- 
ple not  only  had  nursed  her  carefully  in  her 
sickness,  but  were  preparing  to  give  her  a  decent 
burial. 

He  was  familiar  with  every  foot  of  the  moun- 
tain around  Evergreen  Church,  knew  every  one 
of  the  devious  paths  that  traversed  the  laurel 
thickets,  through  many  of  which  one  could  only 
advance  on  all  fours. 

To-day  there  was  away  down  in  the  lonely, 
wretched  heart  of  Dan  Ruger  a  strange  desire 
to  get  nearer  to  Christian  people.  He  wanted  to 
hear  what  Reub  Delton  would  say  of  Mandy, 
and  he  crept  cautiously  to  the  edge  of  the  thicket 
while  the  services  were  going  on. 

"The'  ainH  a  head  of  'em — ^men  er  women — 


78  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

that  wouldii'  drop  ev'ything  ter  git  a  chance  at 
me  ef  some  of  them  honn'  dogs  gits  a  seent." 

He  lay  flat,  with  his  pistol  cocked,  and  lis- 
tened. He  expected  to  hear  the  preacher  tell  of 
the  wickedness  of  Mandj's  past  life,  and  of  the 
hell  that  she  had  assnredlj  gone  to.  Also  of 
many  others  who  were  following  her.  He  would 
not  have  been  surprised  to  have  heard  his  o^vn 
name  mentioned  in  connection  with  his  visit  to 
the  cabin  of  Mandy  the  previous  night,  and 
when  the  services  progressed  and  he  heard  only 
of  God's  love  to  sinners,  and  his  long-suffering 
kindness  to  them,  and  at  the  last  Reuben's  elo- 
quent j)leading  with  those  Christ  died  to  save, 
he  began  to  be  filled  with  surprise. 

^'That's  a  curious  fellar.  It  sounds  like  he 
b'lieves  what  he  says,  too.  I'm  gittin'  mighty 
tired  of  this  yere  bein'  hounded  aroun'  like  an 
ole  cat — out  nights  an'  days,  sneaking  w'at  little 
grub  I  eat.  Ef  I  wus  ter  git  a  chance  I  might" 
— he  stopped  a  moment,  and  the  scowl  which 
had  faded  from  his  brow  loured  once  more,  and 
he  muttered,  ^'Yes,  but  ther's  a  price  on  me  right 
now,  an'  ef  I  wus  to  go  near,  even  this  yer 
preacher,  they'd  nab  me  fur  ter  git  ther 
money." 

Just  then  there  was  the  sound  of  singing — 
a  strangely  unfamiliar  sound  to  Dan  Ruger. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  79 

He  heard  the  words  of  the  simple  old  hymn 
that    had    seemed    to    comfort    Mandy's    dying 

heart — • 

"  I  am  so  glad  that  Jesus  loves  me, 
Jesus  loves  even  me!" 

^'Even  me  !  that's  ther  word  as  would  be  hard 
fur  me  ter  believe.  I  can't  quite  swaller  that. 
Hit  don  mean  no  sich  trash  as  me,  though. 
Ther  only  kin  words  I've  heerd  sence  I  wus  a 
baby  was  ther  words  that  Delton  woman  said  ter 
me  th' other  night." 

There  was  a  strange  choking  sensation  in 
Dan  Ruger's  throat,  and  something  in  his  eyes 
that  made  it  hard  for  him  to  see. 

The  simple  service  in  the  church  was  over, 
and  they  were  bringing  the  coffin  to  lay  Mandy 
Snoggs  in  her  last  resting  place  in  the  grave- 
yard on  the  mountain  side. 

Dan  Ruger  did  not  wait  to  see  any  more.  He 
knew  that  he  was  rimning  a  desperate  risk  of 
being  discovered,  so  he  crawled  back  through 
the  narrow  path  made  by  the  wild  hogs  through 
the  laurel  thicket  until  he  came  out  where  he 
was  safe,  then  he  took  to  the  mountain  torrent 
that  came  dashing  down  a  ravine,  and,  jumping 
from  rock  to  rock,  he  ascended  the  stream  to 
his  hiding  place  two  miles  above  Evergreen 
Church. 


80  Eeuhe7i  Delton,  Preacher, 

He  ate  his  rough  meal  cooked  in  the  cave 
that  had  given  him  shelter  for  two  years,  and 
then,  actuated  for  the  first  time  in  many  a  year 
by  the  desire  to  do  a  kindness  to  somebody,  he 
went  out  on  a  search  for  game. 

"Ef  I  kin  git  a  good  sized  gobbler,  I'd  take  it 
do^vn  ter  ther  preacher's  house  to-night  an' 
leave  it  thar  fur  that  little  woman  to  pay  her 
fur  say  in'  them  words  over  at  Mandy's.  I  kin 
jest  slip  it  down  by  ther  door  an'  nobody  'd  ever 
know  who  done  it." 

He  laughed  to  himself  as  he  pushed  his  way 
through  the  laurels  to  a  favorite  hunting  ground 
for  pheasants. 

Dan  Ruger  was  a  fine  shot,  and  he  had  not 
gone  far  before  he  had  brought  do^vn  two  fine 
pheasants.  He  returned  to  the  cave,  and,  tak- 
ing from  a  ledge  in  the  back  a  sheet  of  coarse 
and  soiled  letter  paper,  and  from  his  pocket  the 
stub  end  of  a  pencil,  he  sat  down  outside  and 
scrawled  in  a  large  and  not  very  legible  hand : 

Miss  Delton. 
a  peksant. 

This  he  folded  and  put  into  his  pocket,  and 
then,  having  cleaned  and  loaded  his  pistol 
again,  he  destroyed  all  signs  of  the  fire  he  had 
made  for  his  afternoon  meal,  and,  going  to  a 


Eeuben  Delton,  Preacher.  81 

ledge  of  the  rocky  precipice  just  above  his  cave, 
he  looked  around  to  see  what  time  of  the  after- 
noon it  was. 

^^Sich  as  rne  caint  go  travellin'  by  daylight/' 
he  said  to  himself  with  bitterness.  "We've  got 
to  wait  like  other  wil'  beasts,  to  prowl  at  night." 

Then  he  remembered  Marthy's  speech  about 
his  not  having  a  home.  Seated  on  the  rocky 
ledge,  and,  gazing  out  over  the  wide  view,  he 
began  to  think  of  his  life.  He  could  hardly  re- 
member when  he  began  his  evil  career.  He 
could  scarcely  remember  when  he  had  known 
what  home  meant. 

"Ef  I'd  a  had  a  mother  er  a  sister  er  a  wife 
like  her,  I'd  not  been  a  sneakin'  roun'  waitin' 
fur  night  even  ter  do  a  good  thing." 

He  looked  down  on  a  vallev  that  followed  the 
winding  river.  The  sun  was  just  setting,  the 
light  cloud  that  hung  like  a  canopy  above  old 
grandfather  was  full  of  golden  glory.  The  sky 
up  to  the  zenith  was  of  that  clear  and  brilliant 
blue  that  seems  peculiar  to  the  late  afternoon 
skies  of  this  region. 

Down  in  the  vallev  a  little  cabin  home  was 
visible,  and  from  the  chimney  curled  the  pale 
blue  smoke.  Peace  seemed  to  reign  everyr^^here. 
Something  of  it  stole  into  the  seared  heart  of 
the  outlaw,  but  only  for  a  moment ;  then  his 


82  Eeuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 

liaiicl  tightened  its  grasp  of  his  pistol,  a  des- 
perate light  flashed  into  his  eyes. 

"  'Tain't  no  nse  fnr  me  to  be  wishin'  fur  a 
home,  nnr  thinkin'  of  livin'  hones'-like  an'  civil. 
Ther  law's  arter  me,  an'  I'll  never  be  no  jail 
bird,  w'ich  I'm  bonn'  ter  be  ef  I  go  doT\m  frnm 
here.  The  bes'  thing  I  kin  do  is  ter  blow  my 
brains  ont  an'  be  done  with  it."  He  drew  his 
pistol  from  his  belt,  and  for  one  moment  the 
life  of  Dan  Rnger  trembled  in  the  balance,  but 
in  the  next  he  thought  of  Marthy  Delton's  kind 
words,  and  the  recollection  of  his  plan  to  take 
the  pheasants  down  to  her,  actually  turned  the 
whole  course  of  Dan  Ruger's  wild  life  without 
his  ever  suspecting  it.  He  put  the  pistol  back 
and  muttered,  "One  more  day  won't  matter,  an' 
I'm  a  goin'  ter  feed  Preacher  Delton  and  his 
wife  one  time  'fore  I  leave  this  yere  blasted  ole 
worl !" 

He  turned  and  climbed  down  the  precipitous 
cliff  and  began  to  follow  the  stream  as  far 
down  as  he  dared  go  before  it  w^as  dark.  He 
avoided  the  frequented  paths,  yet  was  ever  draw- 
ing nearer  the  mountain  manse. 

A  half  mile  from  the  house,  just  above  the 
small  clearing  of  the  Delton  farm,  there  was 
a  spring  that  Reub  and  Marthy  had  found  and 
cleaned    out.      And    by    cutting    away    a    few 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  83 

branches  of  the  laurels  thev  could  get  a  pretty 
view  of  their  home. 

It  was  a  favorite  resort  on  Sunday  evenings 
when  Reuben  came  home  from  preaching  soon 
enough,  and  from  that  spot  there  often  floated 
down  to  the  valley  homes  the  sounds  of  sing- 
ing. 

^^That's  the  preacher  and  Marthy  at  ther 
spring,"  some  one  would  say  as  the  clear,  sweet 
tones  of  their  voices  were  borne  to  them  on  the 
evening  breeze. 

To  this  spring  Dan  Ruger  had  made  his  way. 
He  heard  the  sound  of  the  water,  but  could 
barely  see  the  path  that  led  from  it  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  manse. 

He  stood  still  and  listened.  It  was  too  late 
for  anyone  to  be  coming  to  the  spring  for  water, 
but  he  was  so  used  to  being  on  the  watch  that 
he  did  not  think  of  it. 

"Suj^pose  the  preacher  was  ter  come;  I  don' 
'low  that  a  man  that  was  married  ter  that 
woman  'ould  be  a  coward,"  he  thought.  "She 
wouldn'  be  afeerd,  I  know,  but  they  might  tell 
on  me." 

Everything  was  so  still  that  he  sat  down,  but 
with  his  hand  on  the  pistol  and  his  ear  straining 
for  the  sound  of  approaching  footsteps. 

The  valley  was  filling  with  mists;  the  after- 


84  Ueiiben  Delion,  Preacher. 

glow  had  faded  from  the  sky,   and  the  stars 
were  coming  out  rapidly. 

Ruger  listened  for  the  barking  of  dogs  down 
at  the  manse.  He  knew  the  barking  of  a  dog 
would  betray  him  as  he  approached  the  house, 
but  if  they  kept  a  dog,  it  was  in-doors,  for  every- 
thing was  quiet. 

He  could  see  the  lights  in  the  house,  and  once 
or  twice  there  were  figures  passing  between  the 
window  and  the  light. 

Into  that  heart  which  was  considered  only 
evil  and  callous  there  stole  a  feeling  of  loneli- 
ness, an  aspiration  after  a  better  life,  that  is 
surely  to  be  found  at  sometime  in  every  human 
heart. 

He  felt  a  strange  desire  to  go  into  a  good  man's 
home  and  to  see  what  religion  did  for  it.  But- 
he  was  sure  that  he  would  be  delivered  quickly 
into  the  sheriff's  hands  if  he  attempted  such  a 
thing. 

He  stretched  himself  on  the  ground,  doubling 
his  old  blanket  about  him,  for  the  night  was 
growing  chill.  When  the  lights  were  out  and 
everything  quiet,  he  planned  to  take  the  pheas- 
ants down  for  Marthy. 

The  only  sounds  that  broke  on  the  stillness 
now  was  the  droning  of  the  locusts  and  the  oc- 
casional note  of  a  wakeful  cat-bird.     He  rose 


Beuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  85 

and  went  cautiously  down  the  path,  to  the  barn- 
yard, creeping  along  the  outside  of  the  fence,  and 
yet  drawing  slowly  nearer  and  nearer  to  the 
house.  At  last  he  made  a  dash  across  the  road, 
now  lying  in  the  bright  moonlight,  and,  making 
his  way  as  deftly  as  an  Indian  along  the  side 
fence,  he  crossed  in  the  heavy  shadow  of  the 
house,  approached  the  back  porch  cautiously, 
and  laid  the  pheasants  on  the  floor,  sticking  the 
paper  on  them  Avith  a  thorn  he  had  cut  by  the 
way. 

In  another  moment  he  had  crossed  the  fence 
again,  and  was  just  about  to  cross  the  road  to 
the  barnyard  fence  when  he  heard  the  sound  of 
Avheels  and  of  horses'  feet  a  short  distance  down 
the  road  !  In  an  instant  he  was  lying  flat  on  the 
ground  in  the  shadow  of  the  fence. 

Some  belated  wagoners  returning  from  Blow- 
ing Rock  or,  perhaps,  Lenoir  had  given  him  this 
surprise,  and  little  did  they  dream  as  they  drove 
sleepily  along  in  the  moonlight  that  in  the 
shadow  of  Preacher  Delton's  fence  a  gam  was 
cocked  in  the  hands  of  Dan  Ruger  the  outlaw ! 

When  they  were  entirely  out  of  sight,  Ruger 
rose,  dashed  quickly  across  the  road,  and  was 
soon  lost  in  the  laurel  thicket  beyond  the  spring. 


M 


CHAPTEE  V. 

The  Victory  of  Love. 

AKTHY!    Marthy!    look    here,  won't 

you  r 

There  was  such  a  tone  of  surprise  m 
Reuben's  voice  that  his  wife  put  down  what  she 
was  doing  and  ran  to  the  hack  door.  There  lay 
the  pheasants,  and  Reuben  handed  the  paper  to 
her  with  its  rude  scrawling  address. 

"Who  do  you  suppose  did  this  ?  It  must  have 
been  somebody  who  came  after  we  were  asleep." 
Reuben  said,  ''Almost  anybody  in  the  neighbor- 
hood would  ha'  wanted  to  own  to  having  killed 
such  a  fine  pair  of  birds  as  these.  O  Reub ! 
do  you  think  it  might  be  that  wild  fellow  we 
saw  up  at  Mandy's." 

Reuben's  brow  clouded,  and  he  said,  somewhat 
impatiently,  "I'd  rather  not  have  him  get 
friendly,  Marthy ;  he  is  a  dangerous  fellow,  and 
I  don't  want  him  coming  about  here.  Maybe 
he's  been  at  some  mischief  over  at  the  barn- 
yard and  has  left  these  to  pay.  From  all  I  hear 
of  him,  he  is  dare-devil  enough  to  do  just  that." 

He  lifted  the  bucket  as  he  finished  speaking 
and  went  to  the  barnyard  to  do  his  milking. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  87 

Marthy  had  not  replied  to  him,  hut  when  he 
came  hack  and  reported  everything  intact, 
Marthy  said  to  him,  "Preacher,  mayhe  God 
means  us  to  try  to  save  this  poor  fellow  hefore 
we  leave  Wantnga.  I  cannot  forget  how  sur- 
prised and  touched  he  seemed  by  my  speaking 
kindly  to  him  the  other  night.  Maybe  there's 
some  good  in  him  that  we  are  to  bring  out. 
Maybe  he  is  to  be  saved  by  kindness."  She  began 
to  sing  softly: 

"  Down  in  the  human  heart, 

Crushed  by  the  tempter, 
Feelings  lie  buried  that  grace  can  restore; 

Touched  by  a  loving  heart, 

Wakened  by  kindness. 
Clouds  that  were  broken  will  vibrate  once  more." 

Marthy  did  not  mean  to  be  dramatic,  but  the 
words  were  just  suited  to  express  her  thought, 
and  it  was  as  easy  to  sing  them  as  to  say  them. 
But  there  was  something  in  the  rich,  full  tones 
of  her  voice,  in  the  earnestness  and  enthusiasm 
in  her  face  that  moved  her  husband  profoundly. 
Her  ceaseless  desire,  and  her  watchfulness  to 
save  souls,  gave  her  a  hopefulness  that  seemed 
unquenchable,  all  of  which  he  felt  was  the  re- 
sult of  her  child-like  faith  in  the  r>romises  of 
God. 

'That  may  be  so,  little  wife,"  he  said,  thought- 


((' 


88  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher^- 

fiillv.  ^^God  grant  that  it  may  be.  It  takes  yon 
to  look  at  things  that  way.  I'm  afraid  I  was 
only  seeing  Dan  Rnger  from  the  standpoint  of  a 
Wantanga  citizen." 

Breakfast  over,  Reuben  addressed  himself  to 
the  work  of  replying  to  the  letters  he  had  re- 
ceived from  his  brethren. 

^'It  is  one  of  those  things  that  do  not  get 
easier  to  do  for  being  postponed/'  he  said  to 
Marthy,  as  he  got  his  writing  materials  and  pre- 
pared to  finish  his  letters,  and  to  leave  his 
ploughing  till  afternoon. 

When  he  had  finished  the  letters,  and  they 
had  read  them  over  together,  Renb  laid  them  on 
the  mantel  and  went  out  to  the  field  with  a  light- 
ness of  heart  that  he  could  hardly  understand 
himself  until  he  recalled  the  marginal  reading 
of  the  fifth  verse  of  the  thirty-seventh  Psalm. 

"Roll  thy  way  on  the  Lord,  trust  also  in  him." 
Yes,"  he  thought,  "that  is  it.  I  have  done  my 
little  part,  now  I  just  roll  this  burden  on  the 
Lord ;  it  is  too  heavy  for  me,  and  if  I  can  only 
Svait  on  the  Lord  and  be  of  good  courage,'  my 
heart  will  be  strengthened." 

He  was  unconscious  of  what  others  had  often 
noticed,  that  he  had  that  power  of  letting  the 
burdens  alone  that  he  had  rolled  upon  the  Lord. 

In   a   little  while  Marthy  heard  his  merry 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  89 

whistle  from  the  home  lot,  where  he  was  plough- 
ing, and,  catching  the  contagion,  she  sang  over 
her  wash  tuh.  So  true  is  it  that  cheerfulness  as 
well  as  laughing  is  catching. 

By  three  o'clock  he  was  oif  on  some  of  his 
work  among  the  sick  and  wretched  far  back  in 
the  coves,  where  he  had  found  much  need,  both 
spiritual  and  temporal. 

Homes — ah !  how  may  one  venture  to  call  by 
that  sacred  name  the  miserable  hovels  where 
vice  and  squalor  reign  ?  Where  all  that  makes 
home  attractive  is  wanting,  and  where  many  are 
born  and  grow  to  manhood,  and  even  to  age, 
and  die  without  having  heard  of  God  and 
Christ ! 

Marthy  had  often  accompanied  Reub  on  his 
visits  to  these  coves,  and  had  been  an  object  les- 
son to  more  than  one  woman ;  but  to-day  she  had 
work  of  her  own  in  another  direction.  She 
started  before  Reuben,  to  hold  one  of  her  Moth- 
ers' Meetings,  which  had  made  her  such  a  bless- 
ing to  the  neighborhood  for  miles  around. 

She  was  mounted  on  Delight,  with  little  Grey- 
son  on  her  lap,  and  a  basket  containing  a  mis- 
cellaneous collection  of  materials  for  cooking,  as 
well  as  some  bread  of  her  o^vn  making,  was 
hung  from  the  pommel  of  her  saddle. 

She  was  going  to  a  house  two  miles  away  on 


90  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

the  cross  road  to  Boone,  where  she  had  arranged 
to  meet  as  many  mothers  as  would  come.  The 
meetings  had  been  started  four  years  before, 
and  it  would  have  been  an  interesting  study  for 
the  dreaming  ^philanthropist,  as  well  as  for  ths 
socialistic  firebrands,  could  they  have  looked  in 
on  Marthy's  beautiful  work  at  the  start,  and  had 
come  again  now  to  see  the  progress  made,  and 
the  practical  working  of  a  scheme,  where  the 
teacher  lived  up  to  what  she  taught. 

Here  was  a  mountain  woman,  raised  in  a 
log  cabin  and  trained  within  ten  miles  of  them, 
living  a  simple  industrious  life;  neighborly 
and  godly  and  kind,  right  here  where  they  could 
watch  her,  who  could  read  as  well  as  cook,  and 
make  her  own  clothes ;  who  was  like  them,  and 
yet  '^different  in  her  ways." 

^^Wat's  ther  reason  we  never  had  no  sich 
chances  ?  Wat's  ther  reason  we  can't  be  so, 
too?"  Such  were  the  questions  that  greeted 
Marthy  when  she  first  began  to  visit  among  these 
people. 

To  the  first  question  Marthy's  quick  reply 
was,  ^^Some  of  you  have  had  the  same  chances, 
but  you  didn't  take  them.  But  it  isn't  too  lato 
now.  You  can  be  and  do  many  things  that  I 
am  and  that  I  do.  Let  us  ask  God  to  help  us." 
And  to  the  astonishment  of  the  crowd  of  curious 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  91 

women  gathered  for  the  first  time,  Marthy 
added,  ^Tet  us  kneel  down  now." 

Some  responded,  but  the  majority  simply  sat 
and  gazed  at  her  in  apparent  stupor. 

She  spoke  a  few  words  of  prayer  so  simple 
that  not  one  there  could  have  failed  to  under- 
stand her  if  she  had  tried,  but  many  did  not  try. 
They  were  not  used  to  praying,  and  felt  that 
their  curiosity  was  being  defrauded  while  she 
prayed.  She  had  come  there,  they  thought,  to 
teach  them  something,  and  why  didn't  she  do 
it?  But  Marthy  prayed,  as  she  had  come  in 
faith,  and  surely  her  faith  had  been  rewarded, 
for  this  afternoon,  four  years  later,  as  she  looked 
around  on  the  women  and  girls  gathered  to  meet 
her,  she  felt  a  thrill  of  pleasure,  with  which  was 
blended  a  pang  at  the  thought  of  how  soon  she 
might  have  to  leave  them. 

There  were  probably  fifteen  women  and  girls 
present.  There  was  fire  in  the  stove,  and  on 
the  large  bare  table,  which  was  as  well  scrubbed 
asMarthy's  own,  there  were  piled  plates  and 
cups  of  various  sizes  and  colors,  and  spoons  and 
knives  and  forks. 

After  a  general  handshaking  there  was  an  ex- 
change of  inquiries  as  the  condition  of  family 
health,  and  work,  and  '^crops,"  the  garden  com- 
ing in  for  a  goodly  share  of  the  interest, 


92  Beuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 

Some  one  displayed  a  fine  bunch  of  asters, 
another  a  splendid  cluster  of  sweet  peas ;  a 
young  girl  handed  Marthy  a  few  superb  pan- 
sies,  with  a  beaming  smile  thro^vn  in. 

^^Miss  Delton,  I  bring  you  the  first  pansies  I 
picked  from  my  bushes." 

After  reading  a  few  words  from  the  Bible, 
"something  for  us  to  think  over  and  pray  over 
till  next  meeting,"  Marthy  called  on  one  of  the 
company  to  pray,  and  she  told  Reuben  when  she 
went  home  that  her  heart  was  strengthened, 
and  her  eyes  filled  with  tears  of  joy,  when  she 
listened  to  the  simple  words  of  that  prayer,  so 
eloquent  in  their  simplicity. 

When  they  rose  from  their  knees,  Marthy 
said,  "E^ow,  let's  get  to  work.  Mrs.  Cauzer, 
won't  vou  make  the  biscuits  to-dav  while  we 
are  getting  the  materials  ready  for  a  new  pud- 
ding I  want  to  try  ?" 

Mrs.  Cauzer,  thus  addressed,  blushed  like  a 
girl  with  her  first  beau,  and  said,  "La,  Miss 
Delton  !  You  ain't  a-goin'  ter  make  me  cook  for 
Mothers'  fleeting.'  "  But  though  she  spoke 
in  such  a  modest  tone  she  rose  from  her  seat 
away  back  in  the  room  and  bustled  to  the 
front. 

Marthy  recalled  to  mind  the  appearance  of 
this  woman  Avhen  she  had  first  met  her,   and 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  93 

found  herself  wondering  over  the  change  that 
had  taken  place  in  the  meanwhile. 

They  had  stopped  at  the  house  two  years  be- 
fore while  she  was  out  on  a  preaching  tour  with 
Keub,  and  she  could  never  forget  the  forlorn 
appearance  of  the  house,  and  of  the  family,  too. 

The  miserable  food  served  on  dirty,  broken 
pieces  of  stoneware ;  the  blueish  half-cooked  bis- 
cuHs;  the  bacon  swimming  in  oily  gravy;  the 
beans  and  potatoes  cooked  together,  and  look- 
ing like  dirty  mush ;  the  chicken  stewed  in  milk, 
vrhich  was  probably  the  most  curious  dish  of 
which  she  had  ever  tasted;  and  then  the  coffee, 
ill  tasting  and  muddy,  and  sweetened  with  "long 
sweetening,"  or  sorghum,  and  served  in  small 
bowls,  of  which  the  family  only  possessed  two. 

"I  would  look  miserable  and  sour,  too. 
Preacher,  if  I  had  to  live  on  such  food.  We 
lived  poorly  enough  at  home,  but  things  were 
clean.     Ma  would  have  'em  so. 

While  we  have  digressed  to  glance  back  at 
Mrs.  Cauzer's  home  and  table,  she  had  sifted 
her  flour  at  one  end  of  the  long  table  and  was 
busy  preparing  her  dough. 

"I^ow  let's  have  some  eggs  and  some  butter, 
too.  I  found  this  recipe  in  a  paper,  and  tried 
it  at  home,  and  we  like  it  because  it  is  so 
simple."     She  opened  a  bit  of  newspaper  as  she 


94  Ueiihen  Delton,  Preacher. 

spoke  and  spread  it  out  on  the  table.  There 
was  a  good  deal  of  talking,  and  Marthy  looked 
up  for  a  minute,  then,  knocking  on  the  table 
with  her  fist,  called  out  pleasantly,  ^^Everybody 
listen  now ;  I  am  going  to  read  our  new  recipe." 
In  a  moment  there  was  silence,  and  she  read  dis- 
tinctly, "One-half  pint  of  milk  put  into  a  sauce- 
pan ;  put  on  the  stove,  and  when  milk  is  hot,  add 
three  tablespoons  of  flour  moistened  in  a  little 
cream.  Cook  till  it  thickens ;  then  add  the  yolks 
of  four  eggs  to  the  mixture.  Take  from  the  fire, 
mix  thoroughly,  and  add  the  well-beaten  whites 
of  the  eggs.  Put  into  a  greased  pan,  and  bake 
twenty  minutes." 

The  recipe  added,  "to  be  eaten  with  sauce," 
but  even  if  Marthy  had  not  been  a  strict  temper- 
ance woman,  she  knew  that  the  sauce  required 
sugar,  and  was  therefore  more  of  a  luxury  than 
any  of  them  could  well  afford,  so  that  she  re- 
placed that  sentence  by  one  recommending  that 
this  pudding  be  eaten  with  sorghum  that  had 
been  stewed  a  short  while  with  a  lump  of  butter 
in  it. 

"I  propose  that  one  of  the  girls  make  the 
coffee.  From  all  that  I  hear,  it  is  high  times 
some  of  them  were  learning,  eh,  Maggie  ?"  she 
asked  with  a  merry  wink  at  a  tall  handsome 
girl. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  95 

There  was  a  burst  of  laughter,  and  many 
nudges,  and,  with  a  face  d}ed  in  rosy  color, 
Maggie  came  forward  and  said,  pleasantly, 
"All  right,  Miss  Delton,  I  can  try." 

In  a  short  while  the  meal  was  cooked  and  set 
on  a  neatly  spread  table. 

Marthy's  beautiful  pansies  she  placed  in  a 
bowl  in  the  centre,  and  there  was  more  than  one 
admiring  glance  given  them. 

"I  do  say,  them  flowers  are  monstrous  fine! 
I  'low  they  look  good  enough  ter  eat/'  was  one 
of  the  many  comments. 

Each  neighbor  had  brought  a  plate  or  a  cup, 
and  every  one  brought  her  spoon ;  and  when  they 
sat  down  around  that,  the  simple  table,  surely 
no  afternoon  tea  in  all  the  land  was  a  more  en- 
joyable "function"  than  this  one  ! 

The  biscuits  were  light,  and  of  a  dainty 
broAvn ;  the  scrambled  eggs  were  all  that  one 
could  wish ;  the  coffee  clear  and  hot,  and  the 
pudding,  with  its  nice  dressing  of  sorghum  stew, 
was,  of  course,  the  dish  of  the  afternoon. 

"Well!  well!  Miss  Delton.  I  declare  ef  it 
ain't  wondeiful  how  you  kin  make  a  thing  tas' ! 
This  yer's  jest  the  plumb  bes'  eatin'  I  ever  done ; 
en  ther  ain't  one  thing  in  it  but  w'at  ev'y  one  o' 
us  has  got  right  ter  have." 

"Yes,"  said  another,  sententiously ;  "arter  all, 


9G  Reuhen  Delioii,  Preacher. 

t'ain't    things    so   mucli   that   makes    ther   dif- 
fer'nce ;  it's  how  you  handle  things." 

^'I'low  to  give  my  folks  ther  benefit  of  one 
nex'  Sunday,  ef  we  don'  git  ter  go  ter  preachin," 
was  the  rtmark  of  a  good-natured  woman  with  a 
round  rosy  face. 

''La,  Miss  Buns,  d'  you  think  w'en  folks 
has  preaehin'  they  don't  need  ter  have  pud- 
din'  ?" 

That  question  brought  out  a  general  laugh 
that  filled  Marthy's  heart  with  joy.  She  recalled 
something  that  she  had  written  to  Miss  Grey- 
son  just  before  she  left  school :  ''I  want  to  stay 
among  my  own  people  and  to  try  to  help  up- 
lift them,  and  to  help  them  to  be  happier.  Do 
you  know  that  many  of  our  people  don't  know 
what  vou  mean  by  'beino-  hanpv'  ?  If  vou  talk 
to  them  of  happiness,  they  tell  of  the  o^ood  times 
they  had  at  corn-shucking,  or  at  camp-meeting, 
where  they  shout  and  sing  and  think  they  'get 
religion.'  " 

And  the  quiet  happiness  that  shone  in  the 
faces  of  these  women  gave  her  that  deep  satisfac- 
tion that  comes  from  the  fulfilling  of  our  noblest 
plans  for  the  uplifting  of  those  who  are  our 
truest  neighbors. 

When  every  thing  was  washed,  and  the  plates 
and  cups  sorted,  and  the  ownership  of  each  spoon 


I J 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  97 


settled,  Marthy  said,  "I^ow  let's  look  at  the  sew- 
ing work  done  since  we  met." 

A  fresh  ripple  of  excitement  passed  over  the 
room,  and  bundles  that  had  been  laid  aside  when 
they  first  came  in  were  searched  for  and  brought 
forward. 

There  was  indeed  a  variety  of  garments  dis- 
played. Under  clothing,  children's  dresses, 
aprons,  bonnets,  besides  some  neat  specimens 
of  patching  and  of  darning. 

What  Marthy  had  learned  at  Skyland  Insti- 
tute had  indeed  proved  a  rich  investment  for 
her  as  a  pastor's  wife  in  this  mountain  coiintry. 
Many  who  had  not  known  how  to  make  the 
simplest  garments  decently  had  learned  to  sew 
neatly,  and  the  latent  talents  of  womanhood  and 
of  motherhood  were  being  beautifully  developed. 

After  a  kind  word  of  su2:gestion  and  of  en- 
couragement to  each  one,  and  the  singing  of  a 
hymn,  they  dispersed. 

Ah !  surely  the  angels  look  down  on  no  fairer 
scenes  on  God's  earth  than  such  as  this,  where  a 
brave  young  woman,  with  her  heart  set  on  God's 
service,  and  her  back  resolutely  turned  on  the 
temptations  offered  her  from  time  to  time,  to 
go  out  into  the  world  beyond — was  spending 
her  best  energies  and  using  her  best  gifts  for  the 
uplifting  of  her  own   people — people  towards 


OS  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

whom  her  sympathies  naturally  flowed,  and  who 
were  more  ready  to  understand  and  to  believe 
in  her,  because  she  was  of  their  own  class. 

One  Sunday  afternoon  early  in  September 
Eeuben  had  come  home  earlier  than  usual  from 
one  of  his  Sunday-schools  up  on  the  mountain, 
and,  after  he  had  put  up  his  horse,  he  called  to 
Marthy,  who  was  sitting  on  the  front  door-step 
watching  her  little  boy  as  he  played  in  the  yard. 

^Xet's  go  up  to  the  spring,  Marthy.  It  is  a 
wonderful  afternoon.  There'll  be  a  glorious 
ffunset,  and,  you  know,  we  may  not  have  many 
more  evenings  up  there  !" 

"Baby,  go !  baby,  go !"  cried  out  the  pretty 
boy,  clapping  his  hands  in  delight  as  he  ran  to 
his  father  and  caught  at  his  knee  to  be  lifted  to 
his  shoulder. 

Marthy  assented  by  a  quick  nod  and  with  a 
bright  smile  though  there  was  a  sigh  in  her 
heart  at  the  thought  which  Reuben  had  sug- 
gested. Getting  the  dipper,  and  locking  the 
doors,  she  took  her  place  quickly  at  her  hus- 
band's side. 

The  sun  was  over  an  hour  high.  The  moun- 
tains were  beginning  to  assume  those  delicious 
amethystine  tints  that  they  wear  in  honor  of  the 
setting  sun.  Flecks  of  cloud  tinged  with  gold 
hinted  at  the  glory  yet  to  be.     Away  do^^m  in 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  99 

the  south  the  dull  blue-grev  of  the  atmosphere 
blended  with  the  paler  blue  of  the  sky,  and  near 
at  hand  grim,  and  silent,  and  solemn,  grand- 
father overshadowed  all  the  nearer  peaks. 

They  sauntered  through  the  barn-yard,  petting 
Delight  as  they  passed,  and  then  Moo-moo,  the 
pretty  Jersey  cow.  The  pigs  at  the  pen  came  in 
for  a  share  of  their  notice,  and  the  calf  in  the 
field  beyond.  Then  Keuben  let  down  the  rails, 
and  they  took  the  spring  path,  which  led  up 
through  a  rough  piece  of  ground  sparsely  cov- 
ered with  kalmia  and  dotted  with  the  stumps 
of  trees  that  had  been  felled  long  before. 

Beyond  this  the  path  led  into  a  thicket  of 
rhododendrons,  in  which  several  hundred  yards 
further  up  was  the  spring.  When  they  reached 
it  Eeuben  set  his  boy  down  from  his  shoulder, 
and  they  took  their  seats  on  the  rock  which  he 
had  fixed  with  much  labor  when  they  had 
first  found  the  spring. 

From  this  point,  through  an  oi^ening  that  he 
cut  out,  they  could  get  a  pretty  view  of  the 
cosy  manse  and  of  the  barnyard,  and,  beyond  all, 
of  the  valley  below. 

They  sat  silently  for  a  few  moments,  both 
hearts  doubtless  full  of  the  same  thoughts ;  then 
Marthy,  stifling  back  her  emotion,  began  to  sing, 
softly  at  first,  but  as  she  sang  faith  and  resolute 


100  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

purpose  gave  strength  to  lier  rich  voice,  and 
Reuben  joined  her. 

"  All  the  way  my  Saviour  leads  me, 

What  have  I  to  ask  beside? 
Can  I  doubt  his  tender  mercy, 

Who  through  life  has  been  my  guide? 
Heavenly  peace  divinest  comfort 

Here  by  faith  in  him  to  dwell. 
For  I  know  what  e'er  befalls  me, 

Jesus  doeth  all  things  well. 

"  All  the  way  my  Saviour  leads  me, 

Cheers  each  winding  path  I  tread; 
Gives  me  grace  for  every  trial, 

Feeds  me  with  the  living  bread; 
Though  my  weary  steps  may  falter, 

And  my  soul  athirst  may  be, 
Gushing  from  the  Rock  before  me, 

Lo,  a  spring  of  joy  I  see!" 

The  last  two  lines  of  each  verse  were  repeated, 
and  they  were  about  to  begin  the  third  when 
]Marthy  suddenly  put  her  hand  on  Reub's  and 
said  quietly,  "Keep  still,  preacher,  and  let  me 
speak."  Her  face  flushed  slightly,  and  Reuben 
smiled,  not  understanding  what  she  meant.  The 
reason  was  that  he  was  sitting  with  his  face 
turned  to  her,  while  she,  looking  over  his  shoul- 
der, saw  the  face  of  Dan  Ruger  as  he  peered  at 
them  from  behind  a  crag  not  a  hundred  yards 
awav ! 

The  same  swift  telegraphic  call  for  help  in 
Marthy's  heart,  as  the  one  she  sent  up  the  first 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  101 

night  she  saw  that  face,  and  then  she  said  quite 
pleasantly,  '^Good  evening,  Mr.  Rnger.  Won't 
you  come  down  and  sit  here  with  us  awhile  ?" 

It  would  be  hard  to  say  who  was  the  most  com- 
pletely taken  by  surprise  when  Marthy  spoke — 
Dan  Ruger  or  Reuben  Delton. 

Reub  sprang  instantly  to  his  feet,  his  color 
fading  and  his  eye  flashing,  for  here  he  was 
standing  with  no  way  of  defending  his  wife  and 
child,  as  he  thought,  from  this  desperado. 

Dan  Ruger,  who  had  been  hirking  in  the  neigh- 
borhood most  of  the  day,  had  been  attracted  by 
the  singing,  but  had  no  thought  of  being  seen. 
His  first  impulse  was  to  turn  and  run;  the 
second,  which  he  understood  better  after  a  while, 
was,  ^'Stay  !  Ef  he  fools,  I  kin  shoot.  I'll  see  if 
ther  preacher's  es  game  es  that  little  woman !" 
Marthy's  pluck  was  wonderful  to  him. 

We  hear  much  of  the  fascination  of  evil,  and 
of  beauty,  and  of  eloquence,  but  not  enough  of 
the  fascination  of  simple  goodness,  and  yet  who 
can  ever  estimate  here  the  company  of  those  who, 
like  Dan  Ruger,  have  been  drawn  by  its  power ! 

In  less  time  than  it  had  taken  Reub  to  rise  to 
his  feet  and  face  Ruger  he  found  himself  mov- 
ing towards  him  with  his  hand  extended  and  a 
smile  on  his  face. 

"Good  evening !"  he  said,  cordially.     "Do  you 


102  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

like  music  ?  Won't  you  come  and  sit  down  here 
with  us  while  we  sing  some  more  V^ 

The  man's  unshaven  face  w^as  pale  and  hag- 
gard. His  dilapidated  slouch  hat  was  set  hack 
on  his  headj  and  his  long,  unkempt  hair  hung, 
in  tangles  ahout  his  face.  His  shirt  of  coarse, 
dark  flannel  was  but  the  suggestion  of  a  covering 
for  his  bodvj  and  the  bottom  of  his  pants  hung 
in  fringes  about  his  bare  ankles. 

His  expression  was  a  curious  blending  of  as- 
tonishment and  shame.  His  hand  still  rested  on 
his  hip,  and  both  Marthy  and  Reuben  knew  what 
that  meant,  but  still  they  stood  smiling. 

Little  Greyson,  not  naturally  a  shy  child, 
seemed  awed  by  this  wild,  strange  figure,  and 
had  cuddled  close  to  his  mother's  side,  and  was 
clutchino;  her  dress  in  his  chubbv  hand  while 
he  gazed  with  wonder  into  Ruger's  face. 

"You  uns  'pears  ter  know  me,"  Ruger  said  at 
last  with  a  semblance  of  defiance  in  his  voice. 

"Yes,"  answered  Marthy,  quietly,  "I  haven't 
forgotten  you;  and  my  husband  knows  you,  be- 
cause I  told  him  about  you  coming  to  Mandy 
Snoggs'  and  that  I  gave  you  some  supper." 

"You  had  a  might}^  good  chance  ter  stuff  you 
un's  pockets  ef  you'd  a  jest  put  them  houn'  dogs 
down  ter  Evergreen  on  me  when  you  foun'  me 
prowlin'  roun'  ^landy  Snoggs." 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  103 

''Yes,  but  I  couldn't  have  done  that.  You 
never  did  us  any  harm;  besides,  I  have  been 
hoping  for  a  long  time  to  get  a  chance  to  talk 
with  you,  and  to  show  you  what  a  different  life 
you  might  lead." 

Ruger  was  now  leaning  against  the  rock,  his 
hand  still  on  his  hip,  and  he  scowled  in  such  a 
way  that  Marthy's  heart  beat  with  throbs. 

"  'Tain't  none  o'  you  uns  bizness  w'at  kinder 
life  sich  as  me  lead.'' 

''Indeed  it  is,"  answered  Keub,  earnestly. 
"That's  one  thing  the  Bible  teaches  us  plainly. 
It  does  matter ;  and  we  are  all  boun'  to  help 
others  lead  a  right  life.  Let  me  read  you  just 
a  few  words  from  the  Bible,"  Reuben  added, 
quickly  drawing  a  small  Bible  from  his  breast 
pocket. 

"You're  tryin'  ter  keep  me  here  long  enough 
fer  some  fellar  ter  come  an'  help  you  ketch  me," 
muttered  the  outlaw,  moving  a  step  or  two  and 
looking  defiantly  from  Reuben  to  Marthy. 

Reuben  said  with  a  smile,  "Oh !  you  don't 
think  that,  Ruger.  You  wouldn't  do  a  mean 
thing  like  that,  and  why  should  I  ?  Listen  here !" 
he  continued  as  calmly  as  if  they  were  sitting 
together  in  his  room  at  the  manse.  He  read 
slowly  and  earnestly,  knowing  that  Marthy  was 
praying  with   him   that  the  wonderful  words 


104  Reuben  Delton,  P readier. 

miglit  do  tlieir  work  on  this  apparently  stolid 
man. 

"God  so  loved  tlie  world  that  he  gave  his  only 
begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  on  him 
shonld  not  perish,  bnt  have  everlasting  life." 

"He  that  hath  the  son  (that  is,  for  his  Savior), 
hath  life ;  and  he  that  hath  not  the  son  (for  his 
Savior),  hath  not  life." 

Dan  Rnger  had  seated  himself  sullenly  on  the 
ground,  with  his  back  to  the  rock,  and  was  look- 
ing away  off  with  an  eifort  not  to  seem  inter- 
ested. 

Marthy  watched  his  face  anxiously  while 
■  Reuben  continued :  "If  I  loved  a  man  enough  to 
give  my  little  boy's  life  to  save  him,  it  would 
have  to  be  a  mighty  good  man,  and  then  I  would 
have  to  be  under  a  mighty  obligation  to  him ; 
but  God  didn't  wait  for  us  to  be  any  way  de- 
serving, for  while  we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ 
died  for  us." 

Who  can  doubt  that  something  beyond  human 
power  prompted  little  Greyson  just  at  this  mo- 
ment to  drop  the  dipper  which  he  had  been  hold- 
ing, and,  slipping  down  from  his  mother's  lap, 
to  run  up  to  Dan  Ruger,  and,  putting  his  chubby 
hands  one  on  either  side  of  the  grimy  face,  to 
sav  in  his  winsome  tones,  "Me  lub  oo !" 

There  was  literally  nothing  to  prepare  the 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  105 

minds  of  any  of  the  spectators  for  this  surpris- 
ing scene.  The  child  had  seemed  intimidated  by 
the  appearance  of  the  visitor  at  first.  It  could 
onlv  have  been  one  of  those  mvsterious  impulses 
that  make  us  realize  everv  now  and  then  the  ex- 
istence  of  the  close  relation  between  heaven  and 
the  heart  of  a  child.  "Their  angels  do  always 
behold    the    face    of   mv    Father   which    is    in 

t/ 

heaven !" 

In  a  moment  Dan  Ilu£:er's  arms  were  about 
the  child,  and  with  something  between  a  sob  and 
a  cry  he  bowed  his  head. 

Both  Reuben  and  Marthv  were  moved  to  tears 
at  the  sight. 

Greyson  seemed  startled  at  the  sound  of 
Ruger's  sobs,  and,  struggling  free  from  his 
arms,  ran  back  to  his  mother  with  a  little  quiver 
about  his  lips,  and  his  face  a  rosy  red. 

Ruger  raised  his  head  after  a  moment  or  two 
and  looked  towards  them  with  evident  emotion. 
Then  he  said  in  a  broken  voice,  "That's  the  fust 
chile  ever  offered  to  come  near  me  sense  I  been 
old  enough  ter  remember,  an'  the  fust  person 
I  ever  heerd  sav,  I  love  vou.  Wat's  ther  use  of 
you  uns  tryin'  ter  save  me  ?  Wiy,  man,  I  ain't 
never  done  nothin'  but  sin  es  fur  back  es  I  kin 
remember." 

"That's  just  the  kind  of  soul  Jesus  came  to 


((' 


106  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

save.  Oh !  why  can't  you  believe  it  and  trust 
him.     Only  he  can  save  you  from  your  sins." 

Reuben  had  spoken  the  last  word  when  Dan 
Ruger's  keen  ears  detected  the  sound  of  horses' 
feet  down  on  the  road.  He  sprang  to  his  feet, 
and  Reuben  rose,  too,  guessing  at  once  what  had 
startled  Ruger. 

'^Can  vou  read  ?"  he  asked,  hastily,  thrustino^ 
his  Bible  into  Ruger's  hand.  ^Take  this  with 
you.  I  wish  I  knew  where  to  meet  you.  God 
pity  and  save  you."  Dan  Ruger  was  out  of  sight 
before  Reub  had  finished  his  sentence ! 


CHAPTEK  VI. 

A  New  Maw. 

AS  they  turned  their  backs  on  the  spring  in 
the  clear  gloaming,  it  all  seemed  as  strange 
as  a  dream,  but  they  were  both  deeply  impressed 
bv  the  interview,  and  still  more  by  the  incident 
in  which  little  Grey  son  had  been  allowed  to  touch 
the  hidden  spring  of  good  which  was  buried  in 
this  wayward  heart. 

^^I  never  felt  so  much  impressed  before  by  the 
power  of  love,  and  of  the  nearness  of  heaven  to  a 
little  child's  heart,"  wrote  Marthv  in  her  next 
letter  to  Miss  Grevson. 

rj 

^^Surely  mother's  baby  was  God's  little  messen- 
ger this  evening,"  said  Marthy  as  she  pressed 
her  boy  to  her  heart  and  laid  him  in  his  little 
bed. 

They  read  together  the  parable  of  the  prodigal 
son,  and  both  agreed  that  it  had  for  them  a 
newer  and  deeper  interest  than  ever  now,  and 
they  went  to  sleep  feeling  that  God  had  put  a 
new  opportunity  in  their  way  and  a  new  respon- 
sibility upon  them. 

^Vithin  the  next  week  they  received  quite  a 


108  Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 

budget  of  letters  relating  to  the  call  across  the 
mountains. 

Miss  Greyson,  among  others,  wrote  that  she 
was  deeply  concerned.  She  could  not  see  that 
it  was  their  duty  to  go,  because  she  could 
not  see  that  their  work  in  Wautauga  was  fin- 
ished. But  she  was  afraid  she  was  blinded  by 
her  own  interests.  She  could  not  advise;  she 
could  only  feel. 

Dr.  Doliver  wrote  Reuben  that  he  could  not 
press  him  further  in  the  matter,  but  could  only 
hope  that  his  Presbytery  would  see  the  way 
clear  to  dismiss  him,  at  least  for  a  vear  or  two. 

With  a  courage  born  of  strong  faith  Reuben 
and  Marthv  determined  not  to  discuss  the  mat- 
ter  any  more  just  now,  but  to  turn  all  their 
thoughts  and  energies  to  their  present  work. 

''One  thing  I  do  believe,  Marthy,  and  that  is 
what  you  said  about  Dan  Ruger,  that  God  has  a 
work  for  us  to  do  for  that  poor  fellow." 

''But  how  can  we  get  at  him  ?  You  don't 
know  where  to  find  him,  do  you  V^  asked  Marthy. 

"]^o.  I  don't  know^  that  I  ought  to  go  up  into 
the  cave  where  I've  always  heard  that  he  makes 
his  headquarters.  There's  a  desperate  gang  of 
'em  up  there." 

"]^o,  indeed !"  Marthy  exclaimed  with  a  shud- 
der, but  she  added,  quickly,  "O  Reub !  we  both 


r 


Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  109 

believe  in  prayer.    Let  us  ask  God  to  give  us  the 
opportunity.'^ 

The  beautiful  September  days  were  in  all 
their  glory  now.  The  air  had  never  seemed 
more  crystal  in  its  clearness,  the  distant  moun- 
tains had  never  seemed  bluer,  nor  had  old  Grand- 
father ever  appeared  more  regal  in  the  glory  of 
his  sunset  surroundings.  Thousands  of  ^Tare- 
wells  to  summer"  greeted  the  eye  on  every  side, 
purple  and  yellow  and  white. 

The  glossy  galax  leaves  through  all  the  varying 
shades  from  green  to  crimson  and  brown  car- 
]Deted  the  banks  of  the  turnpike  for  miles.  The 
shining  leaves  of  the  Avinter-green  and  its  bright 
scarlet  berries  starred  the  hillsides.  And  here 
and  there  the  dark  blue  bud  of  the  gentian 
gleamed.  Everywhere  the  landscape  was  be- 
ginning to  glow  with  the  wondrous  color  that 
marks  the  year's  decline. 

There  was  sunlight  and  splendor  everywhere, 
and  Marthy's  beauty-loving  soul  rejoiced  in  it 
all,  and  she  comforted  herself  by  remembering 
that  she  would  find  God's  beauty  even  when  she 
turned  her  back  on  dear  old  Wautauga. 

She  had  called  a  meeting  of  the  Loving 
Thought  Circle,  a  band  of  King's  Daughters 
which  she  had  formed  shortlv  after  her  mar- 
riage,    and  her  object   had  been  to  train   the 


110  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

Yoimg  to  think  kind  thoiiglits  that  would  blos- 
som into  loving  deeds. 

There  are  so  many — ah !  Marthy,  little  knew 
how  widely  they  are  scattered  over  the  world — 
who  simply  never  think  of  little  kindnesses  that 
would  gladden  the  hearts  abont  them.  Of  course, 
then  they  cannot  do  them.  Some  are  too  busy, 
they  think,  some  are  too  poor,  but  many  more 
are  simply  too  indifferent  to  the  pleasure  and 
comfort  of  others.  And  Marthy,  who  had  seen 
what  Miss  Grevson  had  done  to  make  other  lives 
beautiful,  and  to  beautify  her  own  life  by  lov- 
ing thoughts  and  kindly  deeds,  had  resolved  to 
begin  her  life  as  a  mountain  pastor's  wife  by 
training  all  the  children  she  could  reach  in  this 
way. 

One  of  the  chief  employments  of  the  circle, 
and  surely  their  chief  pleasure  was  the  prepara- 
tion of  Christmas  presents. 

Miss  Grevson  and  other  friends  had  been  in 
the  habit  for  several  years  past  of  sending 
Marthy  remnants  and  scraps  of  bright  colored 
wool  and  silk  and  ribbon,  sometimes  adding  pat- 
terns of  little  things  to  be  made  from  such  ma- 
terials. Then  Marthy  would  gather  the  young- 
girls  and  such  of  the  children  as  were  old  enough 
to  learn,  and,  dividing  the  materials  and  plan- 
ning and  cutting  for  them,  would  try  to  arrange 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  Ill 

that  everv  member  of  the  circle  should  make  a 
present  for  some  one.         * 

It  was  delightful  to  see  the  zest  with  which 
they  entered  on  this  work,  and  what  a  new  light 
of  happiness  shone  in  the  faces  of  those,  many 
of  whom  were  tasting  for  the  first  time  the  sweet- 
ness of  giving. 

There  were  some  among  them  who  had  grown 
to  womanhood,  yet  had  never  before  thought  of 
giving  anything  to  anybody  unless  it  was,  per- 
haps, fruit  or  food.  Generous  by  nature,  this 
thought  of  making  something  just  to  be  pretty 
and  to  please  for  someone  else  was  a  novel  source 
of  pleasure ! 

"La,  Miss  Delton,"  said  one  young  girl,  ^'now 
who'd  a  thought  I  could  ha'  made  a  purty  thing- 
like  that  ?  It's  plumb  grand  !"  And  she  held 
up  a  gay  pincushion  stuck  with  pins  that  she 
had  made  for  her  mother. 

This  September  afternoon  that  Marthy  had 
called  the  circle  together  she  had  nuts  and  apples 
and  some  small  tea  cakes  ready.  She  resolved  to 
give  them  an  especially  happy  afternoon.  She 
dared  not  hint  it,  but  she  feared  that  she  might 
not  meet  with  them  again,  and  she  wanted  this 
to  be  such  a  meeting  as  they  would  all  like  to 
remember  as  the  last  one.  She  fought  bravely  to 
hide  any  shadow  of  her  sadness  from  her  face, 


112  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

but  one  bright-faced  girl,  who  was  particularly 
devoted  to  her,  crept  to  her  side  while  she  was 
basting  a  piece  of  work  and  said,  ^^Miss  Delton, 
your  face  don't  look  right  happy,  w'at's  the  mat- 
ter r 

Marthy's  eyes  filled  quickly,  the  child,  with 
the  intuition  of  love,  had  peered  behind  the  mask 
of  sixdles  and  had  seen  the  sadness  lurking 
there. 

^^O  Mary  !"  Marthy  answered,  ^^you  are  a  little 
witch !  You  mustn't  put  on  your  spectacles 
when  you  look  at  my  face.  You'll  see  a  lot  o' 
things  that  spoil  my  beauty  if  you  do,"  and  she 
moved  away  quickly  to  escape  any  further  ques- 
tioning. 

That  circle  of  girls  had  made  over  fifty  gifts 
for  the  last  Christmas.  Trifles,  all  of  them 
were,  but  they  were  the  expression  of  love  and 
interest. 

There  were  button  bags,  pincushions,  gloves, 
aprons,  bonnets,  iron-holders,  table  covers,  mats, 
scarfs,  mufflers,  baby  shoes ;  and  along  with  the 
heart  training  in  the  divine  art  of  giving  their 
eyes  were  being  trained  for  color  seeing  and 
their  hands  for  service. 

The  Boys'  Band — for  Marthy  recognized  the 
supreme  importance  of  training  boys  as  well  as 
girls  in  this  sweet  work  of  giving — the  boys 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  113 

made  various  articles  of  rhododendron  roots, 
from  cliairs  and  picture  frames  to  ink  stands 
and  sleeve  buttons.  And  some  of  their  work  was 
so  clever  as  to  bring  the  young  workmen  quit«  a 
nice  revenue  from  tlie  summer  tourists,  and  tliis 
revenue  they  had  been  investing  in  books  for  a 
circulating  library,  which  was  one  of  Reuben's 
ambitions  for  his  people. 

The  last  week  before  the  meeting  of  Presby- 
tery had  come  jMarthy  had  written  to  her 
mother  that  she  and  Greyson  would  stay  with 
her  while  Reuben  was  aw^ay,  and  she  was  busy 
now  making  a  few  necessary  preparations  for 
that  visit. 

Early  in  the  week  Reuben  went  away  up  on 
the  mountain  to  see  a  family  that  was  very  poor 
and  that  he  wanted  to  get  moved  down  nearer 
to  Evergreen  before  he  left  for  Presbytery. 

The  road  scarcely  deserved  the  name.  It  was 
cut  out  roughly  through  a  laurel  thicket,  and  on 
the  return  he  dismounted,  out  of  compassion  to 
Delight,  and  w^as  leading  him  by  the  bridle 
when  he  came  to  a  place  where  the  path  divided. 
He  was  not  familiar  w^ith  the  way,  and  had  no 
idea  which  was  his  road.  After  a  moment's  hesi- 
tation, and,  we  must  believe,  "led  by  the  Spirit," 
he  plunged  down  towards  the  right,  saying  to 


114  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

himself,  Oh  !  well,  it's  bound  to  lead  somewhere, 
and  I  can  find  ont  Svhere  I  am  at'  there." 

Reuben  Delton  was  not  a  reckless  man.  He 
knew  that  this  country  was  wild,  and  that  there 
were  lawless  characters  about,  but  he  believed  he 
was  about  his  Father's  business,  and  when  urged 
to  carry  a  ]3istol  had  always  said,  "What  use  has 
a  Christian  for  a  pistol  ?  When  he  enlists  in  the 
service  of  his  Master  it  is  for  peace,  and  not  for 
w^ar,  and  he  expects  to  be  taken  care  of." 

And  it  certainly  had  seemed  that  there  was  an 
unseen  guard  about  Reub  and  Marthy  during 
the  four  years  in  which  they  had  lived  and 
worked  in  this  field. 

Many  adventures  and  remarkable  escapes  had 
served  to  confirm  their  faith. 

More  than  once  this  afternoon  Reub  had 
thought  he  had  heard  steps  or  the  crack  of  a  dis- 
tant gun,  but  he  was  busy  thinking,  and  in  the 
path  of  duty,  and  had  no  fear. 

A  sharp  turn  in  the  slippery  wild  pathway 
brought  him  suddenly  face  to  face  with  Dan 
Ruger ! 

The  man  had  his  pistol  cocked  and  an  ugly 
scowd  on  his  face,  which,  however,  gave  place  to 
an  awkward  smile,  and  he  dropped  his  gun  as 
surprised  as  Reuben  was. 

"Why,  Ruger,  I  wasn't  looking  for  you,"  he 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  115 

exclaimed,  offering  his  hand  as  cordially  as  he 
would  have  done  to  any  friend. 

Enger  put  his  hand  out  awkwardly  and  said, 
"Howdye.''  Poor  fellow !  It  had  been  many  a 
long  day  since  any  one  had  offered  him  such  a 
proof  of  friendliness.  He  seemed  to  recover 
from  his  surprise  at  seeing  Delton  as  soon  as  he 
spoke,  for  in  a  moment,  he  asked,  ^'Whar  you  be 
goin'  ?" 

"Why,"  said  Reuben,  laughing;  "I  thought  I 
was  going  home.  I've  been  up  to  the  Early's 
upon  Big  Ivy,  and  I  thought  I  was  going  back 
the  same  way  I  came ;  am  I  in  the  wrong  path  ?" 

"Well,  you  is ;  an'  you  hadn't  orter  go  down 
that  a  way,  preacher.  I'll  put  you  back  in  the 
road,"  replied  Kuger,  looking  uneasily  over  his 
shoulder. 

"That's  very  kind  of  you,  I'm  sure,  and  then 
I'll  have  a  chance  for  a  little  talk  with  you.  I 
was  mighty  sorry  you  had  to  go  Sunday  even- 


in'." 


Instead  of  replying  Ruger  put  up  his  hand 
with  a  motion  to  indicate  silence,  and  Reuben 
silently  turned  about  and  moved  back  up  the 
way  he  had  come,  satisfied  that  the  man  con- 
sidered him  in  danger  and  was  anxious  to  pro- 
tect him,  for  he  kept  in  the  rear  behind  Reuben 
and  his  horse. 


IIG  Eeuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 

When  they  had  scrambled  back  to  where  the 
roads  diverged,  Reuben  proposed  to  rest  awhile^ 
but  Ruger  said,  quickly,  in  a  low  tone,  ^^ISTot 
yit;  when  we  git  do^^Ti  yander  in  the  next  big 
laurel  thicket,"  and  saying  that,  he  took  the 
lead. 

They  had  been  walking  silently  some  minutes, 
when  Ruger  halted,  stooped  down,  and,  bending 
his  head  near  the  groiind,  listened  intently  for 
a  moment,  then,  rising,  he  looked  overhead  to 
see  how  high  the  sun  was.  Reuben  drew  out 
his  watch  and  said,  ^^My  watch  says  ten  minuter 
of  five.'' 

^^Thar's  a  spring,  ef  you  remember, 'bout  a  hun 
dred  yards  further.  I  'low  yer  beast  '11  take  a 
drink,  and  you  ken  rest  a  bit,  too." 
•  Reuben  threw  the  reins  over  his  horse's  neck 
and  let  him  drink  at  the  pretty  little  pool  hy 
the  spring,  and  then  sat  down  with  Ruger  b;^ 
the  roadside.  The  man  looked  confused  and 
frightened,  but  Reub  took  no  notice  of  it,  and, 
taking  oif  liis  hat,  he  wiped  his  brow  quietly  and 
waited  for  him  to  speak. 

"You  uns,"  Ruger  said,  slowly,  "is  got  a  lot 
more  brav'ry  than  we  uns.  I  wus  afeerd  ul 
you  t'other  evenin',  but  you  don'  seem  ter'spicion 
me." 

"Oh  !  well,  man,"  Reuben  replied  with  a  smile, 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  117 

^'wlien  yon  trust  in  God  always  for  yonr  help, 
and  when  you  know,  by  w^hat  lie  has  done  al- 
ready, what  he  will  do  for  you,  you  are  just 
bound  to  go  ahead — if  you  are  trying  to  do  his 
work  and  trust  him  to  guard  you.  That's  why  I 
am  not  afraid. '^ 

Ruger  looked  at  him  steadily  for  a  moment, 
then,  drawing  from  his  pocket  the  Bible  that 
Reub  had  handed  to  him  on  Sunday,  he  said, 
^'Preacher,  I've  tried  to  read  this  yere  book.  I 
foun'  ther  words  you  said,  for  you  had  black 
marks  'round  'em,  but  ef  this  yer's  God's  book, 
'pears  like  I  hain't  got  ther  right  so  much  es  ter 
tech  it  with  my  hand."  He  held  it  out  as  he 
spoke  with  emotion  in  his  face  that  surprised 
Eeuben. 

^^Why,  Euger,  if  God  loved  sinners  enough  to 
send  his  only  Son  to  die  for  them,  why 
shouldn't  they  read  in  his  book  all  about  it,  and 
how  to  escape  from  the  power  of  the  devil? 
Why,  it's  the  man  that's  lost  that  needs  the 
guide-book  and  the  guide-post,  don't  you 
see  ?" 

^'My  God!  man,  ther's  blood  on  this  hand, 
an'  ther's  been  nothin'  but  hell  in  my  heart  for 
ten  years,"  exclaimed  Euger,  holding  out  his 
hand  and  trembling  as  he  spoke. 

Then  there's  all  the  more  need  for  you  to 


(it 


118  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

come  to  Jesns  and  liave  it  cleansed  in  liis  blood. 
Only  ask  liim,  only  believe  liini !" 

Rnger's  head  was  bowed  on  his  hands  now  as 
he  sat  with  his  knees  drawn  np  and  his  elbows 
on  his  knees.  His  half-clad  body  seemed  con- 
vnlsed  with  emotion^  which  he  conld  scarcely 
control. 

Reuben  put  his  hand  out  tenderly  on  the 
man's  arm  and  said,  "Kneel  with  me  now,  and 
let  us  ask  God  to  show  you  how  to  believe  he 
even  does  that  for  sinners." 

It  was  a  strange  scene  that  the  afternoon  sun- 
light, flickerins:  throuoh  loftv  hemlocks  and 
rhododendron  boughs,  fell  upon.  These  two 
men,  types  of  the  saved  and  the  sinner  the  world 
over.  The  one,  with  his  clear,  open  brow,  and 
fine  grey  eyes,  where  spiritual  and  intellectual 
light  shone,  and  the  other,  whose  brow  was 
marked  by  those  hard,  strong  lines  wherein  the 
devil  had  written  his  ownership;  the  eyes 
bleared  with  long  years  of  dissolute  living,  and 
yet  it  was  for  this  man  Reub  Delton  was  plead- 
ing so  earnestly,  yea,  and  for  such  as  this  man 
Jesus  died ! 

Ruger  knelt  as  obediently  as  a  child  would 
have  done,  and  as  they  rose  to  kneel  Reuben 
said  gently,  "Let  us  take  off  our  hats.'' 
Only  a  few  strono-  words  of  confession,  only  a 


Beuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  119 

swift  cry  for  mercy,  only  a  pleading  for  the 
strength  and  the  pardon  promised  to  every  re- 
pentant sinner,  and  at  last,  amid  sobs,  Dan 
Knger's  own  cry,  ^Tord,  have  mercy  on  me. 
I'm  a  lost  sinner  ef  you  don't."  Then  they  rose, 
and  Reuben  said,  "^ow,  Rnger,  you  know  that 
repentance  means  more  than  just  being  sorry 
for  tlio  sins  we  have  committed;  it  is  quitting 
those  things  you  are  sorry  for.  This  is  not 
easy  if  a  man  tries  to  do  it  by  himself,  nor  if  he 
stays  right  where  he  will  be  tempted  again. 
What  are  you  going  to  do  now^?" 

^'My  God !  preacher,  that  is  what  I  want  you 
to  tell  me.  Do  vou  know  ther  law's  arter  me : 
fust,  fur  shootin'  with  intent  ter  kill ;  secon',  fur 
horse  stealin',  and  agin  fur  illicit  distillin'. 
I^ow,  whar's  my  chance  fur  livin'  like  a  Chris- 
tian man  ?    How  kin  I  begin  ter  do  right  ?" 

^^There's  just  one  way  for  you  to  show  that 
you  do  truly  repent,  and  that  you  love  the  Lord 
Avho  died  for  3'ou,  and  want  to  live  the  rest  of 
your  life  for  him." 

Reuben  looked  the  poor  returning  prodigal 
steadily  in  the  face  and  said  firmly  but  gently, 
^^You  must  deliver  yourself  up  to  meet  the  full 
penalty  of  the  law.  God  will  surely  be  with 
you  and  strengthen  you  for  it." 

May  God  have  mercy  on  me !"  groaned  the 


('!< 


120  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

man.  "What  do  that  mean  fur  me  ?"  "It  means 
certainly  to  go  to  jail  at  first.  Did  you  say  you 
shot  a  man  V 

"Yes ;  we  wus  in  a  fuss,  an'  he  got  ther  better 
of  me,  an'  I  swore  ter  kill  him.  I  shot  him  in 
ther  back,  an'  then  I  run  an'  hid  out  that  night 
an'  stole  a  horse  an'  come  over  ther  mounting, 
an'  I've  been  a  helpin'  ter  run  two  stills  up  here 
on  ther  mounting.  I  have  fit  an'  stole  an'  done 
everything  else  that's  mean  till  ther  night  your 
wife  said  the  fust  kin'  words  I've  heerd  in  years. 
Wen  I  carried  them  birds  doA\Ti  ter  your  house 
I  felt  like  I'd  rather  die  then  go  back  an'  live 
like  a  beast,  an'  I  did  cock  ther  pistol  onct  ter 
take  my  life,  but  ther  Lord  must  ha'  held  me 
back.  Then  come  las'  Sunday.  I'd  been  a 
skulkin'  roun'  your  farm  fur  two  days  a-tryin' 
ter  come  near  somethin'  good  an'  respectable. 
You  know  how  your  little  one  come  ter  me. 
Preacher,"  his  voice  quavered.  "Don't  you 
b'lieve  ther  Lord  sent  that  baby  ter  me  ?" 
"I  certainly  do,  and  so  does  his  mother." 
"Well,  w'en  I  felt  them  pure  baby  arms  'roun' 
my  neck  an'  heerd  that  baby  sayin'  he  loved  me 
— me,  as  ain't  never  heerd  no  sich  words  sence 
I  wus  big  enough  ter  ricollect — ther's  no  tellin' 
w'at  I'd  ha'  done  then  ef  them  soun's  down  in 
ther  road  hadn't  ha'  startled  me."     He  stopped 


Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher,  121 

a  moment  and  covered  his  face  with  his  hands, 
then  suddenly  looking  np  with  a  terrified  ex- 
pression, he  said,  ^^O  God !  ain't  ther  no  right 
way  for  me  but  ter  go  ter  jail?  Ain't  I  never 
ter  git  no  chance  ter.  live  like  Christian  folks 

do  r 

^^The  first  thing  for  a  Christian  to  do  is  to  be 
right  with  God,  and  the  next  is  to  be  right  with 
his  fellow-men." 

Rnger  sat  silently  for  a  moment  or  two. 

The  sweet  sunshine  mellowed  the  cool  air ; 
the  ferns  around  the  spring  nodded  their  gentle 
obedience  to  nature's  laws ;  the  water  rippled 
onward  to  the  river,  and  the  river  to  the  sea. 
There  was  no  human  eye  save  that  of  Reub  Del- 
ton  to  mark  the  outward  sign  of  that  mighty 
conflict  between  the  devil"  and  the  Lord's  forces 
for  the  city  of  Mansoul,  but  surely  the  eye  of 
him  who  hath  been  touched  with  a  feeling  of 
our  infirmities  saw  and  pitied  and  strengthened  ! 

"Preacher,  would  you  be  willin'  ter  take  me 
over  ter  Boone  an'  deliver  me  up  ter  ther 
sheriff  ?  I  could  go  with  you,  an'  I  could  stan' 
ther  thought  of  your  gittin'  ther  price,  but  them 
Evergreen  men  shan't  never  take  me  alive," 

Reuben's  heart  throbbed  with  pity  and  with 
admiration  for  the  poor  fellow. 

"Yes,   Ruger,   I  will  go  with  you   as   your 


122  Reuben  Delton,  Preaclier. 

friend,  but  when  ?    It  is  growing  late ;  I  must  be 
getting  on  home." 

"Where  do  yon  live  ?" 

"E'owhar  an'  ev'rj'whar/'  replied  Euger  with 
an  expression  of  ntter  dejection  in  his  face; 
"hnnted  like  a  wild  beast  fnr  two  years,  sleepin' 
sometimes  on  the  ground,  sometimes  in  a  cave, 
sometimes  at  Mandy  Snoggs',  but  always  an' 
ev'rywhar  lookin'  fur  ter  be  killed  by  niornin', 
er  taken  ter  jail." 

"Poor  fellow !  don't  you  see  that  the  Avages  of 
sin  are  poor  pay  ?  Why,  a  life  in  jail,  or  at  the 
penitentiary,  would  be  better  than  the  life  you 
have  been  leading !" 

"E^o,  sir !  no !  This  yer  life's  a  free  life.  I 
wus  my  own  marster." 

"Your  own  master  !  Why,  don't  you  see  that 
the  devil  has  been  your  master,  and  all  the  time 
dragging  you  down  to  destruction  ?" 

Ruger  groaned  and  covered  his  face  with  his 
hands  for  a  moment,  then  he  looked  earnestly 
into  E/euben's  face  and  said,  "You're  right. 
Preacher,  but  ef  Jesus  Christ  died  fur  sich  as 
me,  an'  he'll  arive  me  a  trial  now,  an'  you'll  len' 
me  a  helj)in'  han'  to  keep  me  straight,  I'll  bust 
away  from  all  the  Avickedness  I've  been  at,  so 
help  me  God !" 

The  tears  rushed  to  Reuben's  eyes.    The  pale, 


Beuben  Delton,  Preacher.  123 

iTiisliaven  face  of  the  desperado  wore  an  expres- 
sion that  had  never  been  seen  there  before,  and 
there  was  a  lio;ht  in  his  eve  that  had  been  lit 
there  by  a  divine  power. 

Eeuben  took  his  hand  and  said,  ^^Come  to  my 
house  to-morrow  night  or  the  next,  whichever 
suits  you,  and  come  to  the  side  gate  and  whistle. 
I'll  have  supper  and  a  bed  for  you,  and  the  next 
morning  I  will  drive  you  over  to  Boone,  and 
we  will  show  that  you  are  a  changed  man  by  the 
love  and  si'ace  of  God.     Will  vou  come  ?" 

The  man  stood  speechless  for  a  moment,  then, 
putting  his  hand  out,  he  grasped  Reuben's,  and 
with  something  like  a  sob  he  said.  ^^Preacher, 
you  'uns  may  look  fur  me,"  and  he  turned  away. 

Reuben's  heart  was  full  as  he  rode  do^^^l  the 
mountain.  It  was  after  six  o'clock  when  he 
reached  home,  and  Marthy  had  begun  to  wonder 
Avhat  was  keeping  him,  when  he  rode  up  to  the 
barn-yard  gate. 

As  soon  as  Marthv  saw  him  she  exclaimed, 
^^O  preacher  !  what  is  it  ?  Something  has  hap- 
pened !  What  is  it  ?  You  have  good  news,  I'm 
sure.     T\lio  about?" 

It  was  the  ^interrogation  point"  that  was  so 
eagerly  looking  up  into  his  face,  and  Reuben 
smiled  as  he  said  to  her,  ^^Wonderful  news  in- 
deed.   I  have  been  with  Dan  Ruger  for  an  hour, 


124  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

and  I  believe  he  is  a  saved  man  by  the  grace  of 
God !'' 

"I  can't  tell  yon  all  now,"  he  added,  taking 
the  saddle  off  and  tnrning  Delight  loose  in  the 
lot.  '^Go  on  to  the  honse  and  hnrry  np  snpper, 
little  woman,  and  then  I'll  tell  yon  the  whole 
story." 

Marthy  clasped  her  hands  together  and  nt- 
tered  an  exclamation  of  joy  and  of  surprise. 

"I  wonder  why  I  am  surprised,"  she  mur- 
mured as  she  crossed  the  road.  ^^It  seems  like 
I  am  never  going  to  learn  to  take  the  Lord  at  his 
word  !  We've  been  prayin'  for  this  poor  fellow, 
and  yet  I  Avasn't  looking  for  the  answer,  least- 
ways, so  soon.  O  God  !  forgive  me  for  my  want 
of  faith,"  she  added,  with  uplifted  eyes. 

It  wa*s  a  happy  evening  for  these  faithful 
young  servants  of  the  Lord  when  Reuben  told 
the  whole  story  of  the  apparently  accidental 
meeting,  of  Huger's  change,  and  of  his  request 
that  Reuben  would  take  him  to  Boone. 

As  the  next  day  wore  on  Reuben  began  to  be 
very  anxious. 

^'What  if  his  courage  gives  out !  What  if 
he  doesn't  come !  I  feel  that  this  is  the  crisis 
of  the  fellow's  life."  And  many  prayers  rose 
from  both  of  their  hearts  for  grace  to  be  given 
Ruger  for  this  step. 


Eeuhen  DeltoUj  Preacher,  125 

^^Yoii  know,  he  must  be  tried  for  man- 
slaug'hter,  if  not  for  murder,  and  for  horse  steal- 
ing and  illicit  distilling.  A  man  must  be  firm 
and  brave  to  keep  his  word  when  it  takes  to 
prison,  and,  maybe,  to  death.'' 

^'We  must  just  keep  on  praying  and  trusting 
in  God's  power,  preacher.  Oh !  couldn't  you 
take  some  of  that  monev  that  Mrs.  Boutelle  left 
with  us  to  get  him  decent  clothes  and  shoes  ? 
Can't  we  give  the  j)Oor  outcast  one  happy  night 
to  remember,  eh,  preacher  ?" 

This  was  said  shortly  after  dinner,  and 
Reuben,  after  a  moment's  pause,  said,  ^'Yes, 
Marthy,  I  think  it  would  be  right.  The  poor 
fellow  vrill  respect  himself  more  if  he  looks  more 
respectable.  I  will  saddle  Delight  right  away 
and  look  at  some  suits  that  Mooney  has.  I  was 
going  up  for  the  mail,  anyhow." 

]\Ir.  Mooney  asked  no  questions  of  Preacher 
Delton,  strange  to  say,  when  he  wished  to  look 
at  clothing.  He  was  used  to  Keuben's  buying 
clothes  for  other  peoj)le,  and  knew  that  he  had 
been  to  see  the  Barlys  the  day  before.  Besides, 
he  had  had  his  curiosity  quietly  but  firmly 
checked  more  than  once  before. 

This  served  Beuben's  purpose  well.  He  was 
not  at  all  sure  how  the  men  of  the  neighborhood 


126  Reiiben  Delton,  Preacher. 

would   take   tlie   news    of   the   interview   with 
Rnger  and  its  results. 

He  took  the  suit,  as  well  as  a  hat  and  a  pair 
of  shoes,  with  him,  and  awaited  nightfall  with 
no  little  anxiety. 

In  the  meanwhile,  filled  with  a  new  purpose 
that  never  wavered,  Ruger  had  gone  to  a  small 
distillery,  which  he  had  assisted  in  running  for 
over  two  years  in  one  of  the  remotest  and  wild- 
est coves  of  that  region.  Here  he  found  Job 
Kane,  one  of  his  partners. 

^^Job,'^  he  said  with  a  steady  voice,  "I'm 
about  to  quit  this  part  of  ther  country,  an'  this 
business,  too.  I  'low  it  would  be  a  good  thing  ef 
you  'uns  wus  ter  do  ther  same,  but,  howsoever 
that  be,  I'm  done,  an'  I've  got  this  ter  say,  ef  I 
had  ha'  seen  things  like  I  do  now,  I'd  ha'  never 
done  no  sich  work  from  ther  fust." 

Job  Kane's  face  was  ashy  pale,  and  he  drew 
his  pistol  from  his  belt.  Involuntarily  Kuger's 
hand  sought  his  pistol,  and  then,  though  he 
knew  that  death  was  staring  him  in  the  face,  he 
said,  "You  think  I'm  a-goin'  ter  peach  on  you 
'uns,  an'  you  aim  ter  git  me  out  of  ther  way,  but 
you're  wrong  thar.  You  kin  shoot  me,  but,  so 
help  me  God,  I'm  a-goin'  ter  give  you  'uns  a 
chance  ter  see  things  es  I  do.  I  don't  never  ex- 
pect ter  to  give  in  none  of  you  boy's  names." 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  127 

What  was  it  that  made  Job  Kane's  hand  drop 
powerless  ?  We  may  speculate,  and  even  doubt 
that  there  was  anything  in  Knger's  speech  that 
could  have  this  effect;  all  the  same  God  knows 
such  things  have  happened,  and  Avill  continue 
to  happen  to  the  end  of  time.  God  is  as  true  to 
his  covenant  with  those  who  have  but  recently 
sworn  allegiance  as  to  those  who  have  never 
known  any  other  master. 

Job  looked  sullenly  at  his  former  accomplice 
and  said,  ^'Well,  you  git  outer  these  parts  in  a 
hurry.  You  must  ha'  been  ter  camp  meetin'  an' 
got  religion,"  and  he  broke  into  a  scornful  laugh. 

Time  was  when  Euger  would  have  been  roused 
by  this  ridicule  to  shooting. 

^^Maybe  I  have"  was  all  he  said  as  he  turned 
away  forever  from  Job  Kane  and  the  Big  Rock 
distillery. 

About  eight  o'clock  Reuben  heard  the  whistle 
at  the  fence,  and  fairlv  bounded  to  his  feet  in 
his  relief  and  eagerness  to  find  that  Dan  Ruger 
had  really  come. 

"Welcome,  and  God  bless  you,"  said  Reuben, 
cordially,  as  he  grasped  the  hand  of  his  visitor. 

The  flood  of  cheerful  light  that  streamed  out 
from  the  kitchen  door  seemed  to  blind  Ruger 
for  a  moment,  and  he  stopped — he  who  had  had 
no  faith  in  God  or  man  before  seemed  to  realize 


128  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher, 

that  he  was  placing  his  life  in  the  hands  of 
Renben  and  Marthy,  and  that  there  was  no  go- 
ing back  now. 

"I  ain't  fitten  tor  come  in  vonr  house,  nor 
wliar  women  folks  is/'  said  Rnger,  conscious  of 
his  miserable  appearance,  and  shrinking  back 
out  of  the  light. 

But  Reuben,  putting  his  hand  on  the  man's 
shoulder,  said  with  a  laugh,  "Oh !  we  are  used 
to  seeing  all  kinds  of  people,  and,  besides,  I'm 
ffoinfi^  to  take  you  to  a  room  where  you  can  o-et 
a  chance  to  wash  and  change  your  clothes,  then 
you'll  feel  more  like  eating  supper,  I  reckon." 

Dan  Euger  stared  blankly  at  him,  simply 
OYcrwhelmed  by  all  this  kindness.  Lons;  after- 
wards,  when  he  had  learned  to  loye  the  parable 
of  the  Prodigal  Son  more  than  all  others,  he 
said  to  Reuben,  "Surely,  you  took  in  the  prodi- 
gal son  and  clothed  him  and  fed  him  that 
night !" 

He  followed  Reuben  without  another  word 
into  the  kitchen,  almost  blinded  by  the  bright 
lamplight,  to  which  his  eyes  were  so  unused. 

Marthy  greeted  him  just  as  she  would  haye 
greeted  any  guest  who  had  come  to  pass  a  night 
with  them,  and  then  Ruger,  turning  to  Reuben, 
said,  "Yere  preacher,  I  surrender  ter  you  'uns ; 
your  weepons  is  more  powerful  then  mine," 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  129 

and  he  handed  Keiiben  the  pistol  that  had 
wrought  so  much  eviL 

"I  set  my  gun  out  agin  ther  fence.  I  'lowed 
as  how  you  'uns  had  a  right  ter  mistrust  me, 
an'  I  thought  you  mightn't  know  es  how  it 
wasn't  loaded.  I'll  git  you  ter  keep  that  too. 
It's  a  mighty  good  gun  fur  varmints." 

Then  he  took  from  his  hip  pocket  a  formidable 
jack-knife,  and,  handing  it  to  Marthy,  said, 
said,  ^^Miss  Delton,  I'll  give  you  this  ter  keep. 
Your  words  up  ter  Mandy's  that  night  cut  me 
wus  than  any  knife — but  they  done  me  good." 

Marthy  and  Reub  were  quite  overcome  by 
the  man's  unconscious  eloquence^ — the  eloquence 
of  his  manner  rather  than  of  his  words. 

Reuben  took  him  into  the  shed  room,  and 
there,  laid  out  on  the  bed,  by  Marthy's  kind 
hands,  were  clean,  new  clothes  and  a  hat  and 
pair  of  shoes,  while  a  tub  of  water  and  towels 
suggested  to  him  that  in  this  household  ^'the 
gospel  of  cleanliness"  was  believed  in. 

He  came  out  sometime  later  a  very  changed 
person  in  his  appearance  but  for  his  unshaven 
face  and  shaggy  hair. 

Marthy,  with  that  tact  which  comes  rather 
from  true  kindliness  than  from  Avhat  is  known 
as  ^^good  breeding,'^  made  no  comment  on  the 
change,  but  set  before  Ruger  the  supper  she 


130  Beuben  Deltoii,  Preacher. 

had  prepared  for  him.  However,  the  poor  fel- 
low, dazed  by  all  the  kindness,  and  by  the  sud- 
den accession  of  comfort,  did  but  little  justice 
to  the  meal. 

"AVe  always  have  what  we  call  family  prayers, 
Ruger,"  said  Reuben,  w^hen  he  found  that  his 
guest  could  not  eat.  "I  will  read  a  few  verses 
from  the  Bible,  and  then  we  will  kneel  and  ask 
God  to  take  care  of  us  through  the  night." 

Reuben  read  the  thirty-second  psalm,  ex- 
plaining and  bringing  out  the  meaning  of  those 
wonderful  words  which  have  been  the  comfort 
of  so  many  forgiven  souls  through  the  ages  since 
they  were  written.  Then  they  knelt  in  prayer, 
and  the  preacher's  heart  was  poured  out  in  sup- 
plication for  Dan  Ruger.  Surely  it  was  a  sight 
for  angels  to  rejoice  over — the  sight  of  this  re- 
pentant sinner  as  he  rose  from  his  knees  with 
tears  in  his  eyes. 

There  had  never  been  such  an  excitement  in 
all  Wautauga  county  as  there  was  when  it  be- 
came known  that  Dan  Ruger  had  given  himself 
up  to  Preacher  Delton,  and  that  he  had  gone  to 
Boone. 

When  Reuben  passed  the  store  at  Evergreen 
there  were  two  or  three  men  sitting  around  as 
usual,  and  they  noticed  that  he  had  a  stranger 
with  him.    Reuben  hoped  to  drive  quietly  past, 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  131 

but  Mooney  decided  that  he  had  a  right  to 
know  where  his  preacher  was  going,  even  if  he 
could  not  find  out  who  his  companion  was. 

^^Good  morning/'  said  Eeub,  quietly,  but 
without  slacking  his  speed. 

"Good  mornin'.  Why,  whar  you  be  goin'  so 
early,  preacher  ?''  asked  Jim  Mooney,  staring 
earnestly  at  Ruger  while  he  spoke.  Every  man 
of  the  little  group  was  keeping  him  company, 
too,  for  it  was  an  important  matter  to  have  peo- 
ple passing  so  soon  in  the  day. 

"I'm  going  over  to  Boone  on  a  little  business, 
and  will  be  back  by  evening,  and  will  call  for 
my  mail  then.'' 

"Won't  you  'uns  light  awhile  ?"  Mr.  Mooney 
called  in  a  tone  in  which  there  was  more  irrita- 
tion than  cordiality. 

"1^0,  thank  you !"  called  back  Reuben,  touch- 
ing Delight  with  his  whip  as  he  spoke,  and  in  a 
moment  more  a  curve  in  the  road  took  them  out 
of  sight. 

"Preacher  Delton's  awful  close-mouthed,  any- 
how. I  caint  see  w'at  harm  'twould  ha'  done 
fur  we  'uns  ter  know'd  whar  he  was  goin'  an' 
w'at  that  feller's  name  wus,"  said  Mooney  in  a 
discontented  tone. 

"Preacher's  plumb  aggravatin',  I  say,"  was 
the  response  from  a  sympathizing  loafer. 


132  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

^^The  preacher  bought  them  close  yisterday, 
an'  paid  spot  cash  fur  'em,  too,  he  did."  Mooney 
threw  this  crust  to  the  hungry  crowd  of  gossips 
with  a  complacent  twinkle  in  his  eye.  If  he 
didn't  know  Avho  the  stranger  was,  and  Avhere  he 
came  from,  or  why  they  were  going  to  Boone, 
he  knew  something  more  than  the  others ! 

"Do  say !  Well,  it  monght  be  a  feller  that 
was  a-goin'  ter  be  marr'ed,"  suggested  a  young 
fellow  whose  thoughts  lightly  turned  to  love. 

"That  fellar  ain't  foolin'  with  marryin'  now, 
you  bet !"  said  Mooney,  who  prided  himself  on 
his  shrewdness. 

And  so  for  the  next  hour,  until  a  party  of 
tourists  diverted  their  thoughts,  the  group  of 
men  speculated  on  the  subject  of  Reub  Delton's 
companion. 


CHAPTEE  VII. 

Sustainijstg  Gkace. 

As  tliey  drove  slowly  along,  Riiger  was  tell- 
ing Reuben  the  story  of  his  life  of  sin 
and  crime.  Making  confession  of  sins  that  he 
seemed  truly  to  repent  of  and  asking  many  ques- 
tions— questions  that  had  reference  to  the  new 
life  the  poor  fellow  w^as  entering  on. 

It  w^as  about  noon  when  they  turned  into  the 
lovely  v\dnding  valley  road  that  leads  into  this 
quaint  little  town,  and  Delton  drove  up  to  the 
sheriff's  office  without  attracting  attention. 

"Sheriff !"  he  called  out. 

A  small  girl  ran  out  from  a  gate  beside  the 
office  and  called  in  a  very  loud  voice,  "O  par ! 
par !  Yere's  a  man  wants  ter  see  you,  an'  he 
looks  like  Preacher  Delton,  he  does." 

When  the  sheriff  appeared,  his  face  w^as  a 
study.  It  was  one  of  those  faces  that  seemed 
marked  all  over  with  interrogation  points.  How 
much  his  life  as  a  sheriff  had  to  do  with  the 
singular  expression,  w^e  cannot  say. 

"^^Good  evenin',   preacher.     Why,   won't  you 


134  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

'luis  light  ?"  He  glanced  at  Ruger  from  under 
a  ^aiv  of  shaggy  grey  eyebrows  with  a  keen  pro- 
fessional stare.  Dan  Ruger  declared  afterwards 
that  it  gave  him  shivers. 

^'Sheriff,  we  want  to  see  yon  privately  in  your 
office  as  soon  as  I  hitch  my  horse.'' 

"Suttenly !  suttenly !"  was  the  quick  reply. 

Reuben  hitched  Delight,  while  Dan  Ruger 
stood  by  quietly,  astonished,  as  he  afterwards 
declared,  at  himself. 

Then  they  went  into  the  bare,  dirty  room 
dignified  by  the  title  of  ^'^office." 

^^Sheriff,''  said  Reuben  after  the  door  was 
closed,  and  laying  his  hand  gently  on  the  arm  of 
Ruger,  ^^this  man  is  Dan  Ruger,  and  he  has 
voluntarily  surrendered  to  me.  He  comes  here 
to  answer  for  the  violation  of  the  law  because 
he  feels  that  it  is  the  right  thing  for  a  Christian 
man  to  do.  He  is  my  friend,  and  I  ask  you  to 
be  as  merciful  to  him  as  you  would  be  to  me." 

To  say  that  Sheriff  Clapp  was  astonished  is 
putting  it  mildly. 

His  small  black  eyes  snapped  violently,  his 
round,  red  face  grew  redder;  he  stood,  first  on 
one  foot  and  then  on  the  other,  staring  all  the 
while  at  Ruger.  He  would  start  suddenly  to- 
wards the  man  then,  just  as  suddenly,  start 
back. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  135 

^'Dan  Ruger!  Dan  Riiger!  give  himself  up 
voluntary!  Your  friend?  Like  a  Christian 
man  should.  Grandfather  Mountain!  Man, 
what  d'  ye  mean  ?" 

He  looked  at  Eeuben  now,  and  the  question 
was  evidently  for  him. 

"I  mean  simply/'  said  Reuben  in  a  quiet, 
firm  tone,  ''that  by  the  grace  of  God  Dan  Ruger 
is  a  changed  man.  He  wants  to  do  right  now. 
He  is  my  friend,  and  I  ask  you  to  be  as  kind  to 
him  as  the  law  will  allow." 

"Well!  well!  I  say,  whar  d'ye  ketch  him, 
preacher?"  exclaimed  Clapp,  eyeing  his  gun 
that  hung  on  the  wall. 

Dan  Ruger  in  the  meanwhile  stood  with  his 
head  down,  motionless  but  for  the  nervous 
clutching  of  his  clasped  hands. 

''I  didn't  catch  him.  I  told  you  he  gave  him- 
self up  to  me,  and  asked  me  to  bring  him  to 
Boone." 

"Well !  well !"  muttered  the  sheriff,  nodding 
his  head  slowly  in  a  very  reflective  manner,  and 
interspersing  these  nods  with  shrewd  searching 
glances  at  the  prisoner. 

Reuben  resolved  not  to  tell  anything  more 
about  his  intercourse  with  Ruger  than  he  could 
possibly  avoid.  It  might  have  savored  of  self- 
praise — the    story    of    Ruger's    conversion — to 


136  Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 

those  who  are  always  so  quick  to  turn  the  small 
weapon  of  ridicule  on  everything  pertaining  to 
religion. 

^^Well !  well  V  uttered  Sheriff  Clapp  for  the 
third  time.  ^'This  do  beat  ther  nation.  Well, 
I  hain't  never  heerd  nothin'  like  this  sence  I 
was  a  boy.  Come  'long  then,  prisoner.  Ther 
law's  after  you  on  three  counts,  and  the  sooner 
you're  behin'  the  bars,  ther  better  fur  the 
county,  an'  fur  ther  preacher,  too,  for  he's 
a-ffoin'  ter  ait  the  fiftv  dollars  reeward." 

For  the  first  time  Ruger's  lips  quivered,  and 
he  gave  sign  of  hearing  what  was  said.  Before 
that  he  seemed  to  Reuben  to  have  withdrawn 
his  attention  to  that  inner  battle-ground  where 
a  man's  bitterest  conflicts  are  often  waged. 

The  sheriff  took  down  his  gun,  and,  turning 
to  Reuben,  said,  ^^Preacher,  you'll  go  over  with 
me."  He  evidently  expected  the  prisoner  to 
make  some  resistance.  Reuben  placed  himself 
quietly  by  Ruger  without  a  reply,  and  they  went 
out  and  crossed  the  street  to  the  jail. 

The  jailor  seemed  as  surprised  as  the  sheriff, 
though,  being  a  man  of  fewer  words,  he  vented 
his  feelings  by  stares  and  an  occasional  whistle. 
He  was  inclined  to  be  rough  when  he  put  on  the 
handcuffs. 

Ruger's  face  turned  ashy  pale  when  they  were 


Reuben  Delton,  Preaclier,  137 

put  on,  and  if  anything  had  been  needed  to 
prove  that  he  was  a  changed  man,  it  was  his  sub- 
mission without  a  sign  of  resistance  to  what 
would  have  probably  cost  a  death-struggle  a 
month  before ! 

He  had  already  unconsciously  become  an  ob- 
ject lesson  in  proof  of  the  power  of  religion  to 
recast  the  soul  of  man. 

When  they  reached  the  door  of  the  cell,  Ruger 
turned  and  said  in  a  low  tone,  ^^Prcacher,  would 
you  min'  comin'  in  an'  prayin'  with  me  before 
you  go?'' 

^^Do  you  think  I  could  go  home  without  a 
prayer  Avith  you  ?"  Then  he  turned  and  asked 
to  be  locked  in  the  cell  with  the  prisoner  for  a 
little  while. 

The  men  were  too  amazed  to  deny  anything 
to  the  man  who  had  captured  the  notorious  out- 
law, and  they  knew  Reub  Delton's  life  too  well 
to  fear  any  collusion  with  their  prisoner.  They 
locked  the  two  men  in,  but  lingered  outside, 
hoping  to  overhear  some  confession  from  the 
prisoner.  But,  as  we  know,  Euger  had  made 
all  his  confessions  on  the  road. 

Reuben  sat  down  beside  him  on  the  cot  Avhich 
furnished  the  only  se^t  in  the  cell,  and,  taking 
out  a  Bible,  he  read  several  passages,  the  par- 
able of  the  Prodigal  Son  among  others. 


138 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


^^Let  ITS  pray  now,  Dan/'  and  together  they 
knelt,  while  he  poured  out  what  to  the  ears  out- 
side must  have  seemed  a  strange  torrent  of 
thanksgiving ! 

But  was  it  not  true  that  Dan  Ruger,  hand- 
cuffed and  locked  in  jail,  was  yet  freer  than  he 
had  ever  heen  ? 

It  was  for  his  escape  from  the  bondage  and 
power  of  a  sinful  life  that  Reuben  Delton  gave 
thanks,  and  commending  him  to  the  care  of  the 
God  who  he  was  now  resolved  to  serve,  and  pray- 
ing that  if  it  was  God's  will,  he  might  yet  live 
to  tell  many  others  the  story  of  the  cross,  the 
young  preacher  rose  from  his  knees,  and,  hand- 
ing Ruger  the  Bible,  he  said,  ^^Dan,  I  have  writ- 
ten vour  name  and  mine  here,  and  I  have 
marked  some  passages  that  I  wanted  you  to  read 
right  away.  But,  my  friend,  this  book  is  a 
mine — an  inexhaustible  mine — and  the  treas- 
ures that  are  there  must  be  dug  for  and  laid  up 
in  your  heart.  Maybe  God  has  shut  you  in  here 
to  give  you  time  for  this  very  study  that  you 
need.  Keep  a  brave  heart.  I  mean  to  do  all  I 
can  to  save  your  life.  In  the  meanwhile  pray 
hard,  and  keep  your  temper  when  people  ply 
you  with  questions.     God  bless  you,  God  bless 


you 


v> 


Reuhe7i  Delton,  Preacher.  139 

Eeiib  grasped  the  hand  of  Euger,  who  brushed 
the  tears  from  his  eyes  as  he  gave  his  hand. 

"Preacher,  you're  goin'  ter  come  agin  ?" 

"Certainly/'  replied  Reuben  as  he  went  to 
the  door  and  called  for  the  jailor. 

The  sheriff,  who  had  lingered  in  the  hall  with 
the  jailor  in  the  hope  of  gaining  some  further 
information,  joined  him  and  eagerly  demanded 
to  know  "all  about  the  capture,"  as  he  persisted 
in  calling  it. 

It  had  become  generally  known  by  this  time 
that  the  notorious  outlaw  was  in  the  jail,  and 
when  Reuben  went  out  to  his  buggy  he  found 
quite  a  crowd  gathered  in  the  street,  and  all 
clamorous  for  the  story.  His  indignation  was 
strong  when  he  saw  men  and  women  so  eager  for 
details  of  the  affair,  and  his  eyes  flashed,  and  his 
color  deepened,  as  he  stood  on  the  steps  and 
said,  "My  friends,  you  all  know  that  Dan  Ruger 
has  been  a  desperate  outlaw.  He  says  so  him- 
self, but  by  the  grace  of  God  he  is  a  saved  man, 
and  a  changed  man.  That  is  what  God's  grace 
can  and  does  do.  I  have  not  time  to  tell  you  the 
story  of  his  conversion,  but  I  want  you  to  know 
that  I  did  not  capture  him ;  he  gave  himself  up 
to  me  willingly,  and  wants  to  abide  by  the  law. 
Let  us  try  to  think  how  we  would  feel  in  his 
place.     We  surely  would  not  want  to  be  stared 


140  Reuben  Delion,  Preacher. 

at  like  caged  animals.  E"eitlieT  does  lie.  Fol- 
low tlie  golden  rule,  friends.  I  consider  Dan 
Ruger  a  friend  of  mine,  therefore  treat  liim 
kindly  for  my  sake.  But  he  is  more,  he  is  a 
sinner  saved  by  Jesns  Christ,  jnst  as  I  hope  yon 
are.  Treat  him  as  our  Master  would  have  you 
treat  him.  I  expect  to  come  back  to  see  him, 
and  then  I  will  tell  you  about  his  conversion. 
You  especially,  Mr.  Simpson,''  he  said,  turning 
to  the  jailor.  ^^I  beg  you  to  be  kind.  I  do  not 
believe  your  prisoner  will  give  you  any  trouble. 
Good-bye  to  you  all." 

Eeuben  Delton  bowed,  and,  getting  into  his 
buggy,  drove  off,  and  the  crowd  quietly  dis- 
persed, but  as  Reub  drove  away  one  man's  en- 
thusiasm got  the  better  of  him,  and  he  called  out, 
^'Bullv  fur  Preacher  Delton !  Come  back  an' 
tell  us  w'at  kinder  spell  you  used  to  git  a  hold 
on  that  feller." 

Reuben's  ride  home  gave  him  opportunity  for 
reflection,  and  for  once  the  sylvan  beauty  of  the 
famous  Boone  Turnpike  was  lost  on  him. 

Back  to  the  prisoner  his  thoughts  would  turn, 
not  once,  but  many  times.  Then  they  flashed 
across  the  far  Blue  Eidge  Mountains  shut  out 
from  view  now  to  the  field  to  which  he  had  been 
called. 

"^^How   can   I  leave   that  poor   fellow  now? 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  141 

God  surely  has  given  him  to  me  as  a  charge. 
I  must  begin  right  aAvay  to  interest  people  in 
him.  I  shall  write  to  the  governor  myself.  The 
story  of  Dan  Kuger  will  touch  any  Christian 
heart.'' 

He  only  stopped  a  few  moments  at  Ever- 
green. He  knew  hoAV  anxiously  Marthy  would 
await  his  return. 

When  Mooney  handed  him  his  mail  there  was 
quite  a  group  of  loafers  around  the  door. 

"Well,  friends/'  said  Reuben,  "I  have  some 
wonderful  news  for  you.  The  man  that  I  drove 
over  to  Boone  this  morning  was  Dan  Ruger, 
whose  name  we've  all  known  for  years  as  that 
of  an  outlaw,  a  horse  stealer,  perhaps  a  mur- 
derer, an  illicit  distiller,  but  by  the  grace  of 
God  now  a  changed  man,  a  saved  sinner !  He 
gave  himself  up  to  me,  and  left  both  his  gun  and 
his  pistol  at  my  house  last  night." 

The  effect  was  electrical.  The  men  sprang  to 
their  feet,  excepting  one  man,  who  seemed  too 
surprised  to  move. 

^Dan  Ruger  !     I  do  say  !" 

Well,  well,  that's  plumb  pas'  believin' !" 

"Well !  did  you  ever  ?" 

Such  were  some  of  the  exclamations  that 
greeted  Reub's  ears. 

"Well,  preacher,"  said  Mooney,  admiration 


"] 

CO 


142  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

and  disgust  blended  curiously  in  his  tones,  "you 
do  beat  all  fur  bein'  tlie  sliuttest-mouthed  man, 
an'  Tm  boun'  ter  say,  fur  brav'ry,  too." 

"Why,  man  alive !  he  druv  all  ther  way  from 
his  house  clean  ter  Boone  a  sittin'  by  that  feller 
an'not  so  much  as  a  string  aroun'  his  wrists,  an' 
I'll  bet  nary  a  gun  nur  pistil  along!  Well, 
well !" 

Keuben  laughed  heartily  at  the  man's  way  of 
expressing  his  praise.  It  had  never  once  oc- 
curred to  him  that  he  was  doing  a  brave  thing. 
Then  looking  gravely  around  on  them  all,  he 
said,  "Mooney,  I  would  trust  that  man  any- 
where now.  If  vou  could  have  seen  him,  and 
heard  his  humble  confession  to  me  of  his  past 
sins,  and  then  have  seen  him  kneel  down  with 
me  to  ask  God's  forgiveness,  you  would  be 
obliged  to  believ^  in  him  now.  He  is  a  saved 
man,  and  I  will  never  doubt  the  power  of  God 
again,  so  help  me  God!"  He  ended  solemnly, 
and  a  hush  fell  on  the  crowd. 

"I  will  tell  his  story  next  Sunday,  and  shall 
look  for  all  of  you  to  be  at  church."  Keuben 
touched  Delight  gently  with  his  whip  and  drove 
off. 

When  the  story  of  Dan  Huger's  conversion 
was  known,  it  endeared  the  Deltons  more 
strongly  than  ever  to  the  people  among  whom 


Beuhen  Belton,  Preacher.  143 

they  lived,  and  seemed  to  make  it  more  doubt- 
ful whether  they  should  leave  or  not. 

But  when  Presbytery  reluctantly  consented 
to  their  going,  it  seemed  that  the  matter  had 
been  taken  out  of  their  hands,  and  the  dear 
young  people,  with  swelling  hearts  and  tear- 
stained  eyes,  submitted  to  the  decision,  and  be- 
gan the  painful  task  of  preparing  the  people  for 
their  going,  and  to  dismantle  the  sweet  cabin 
home  thev  had  loved  so  well.  We  will  draw  the 
veil  before  the  sad  picture,  extending  our  con- 
dolence to  the  people  who  were  giving  them  up, 
and  congratulating  ourselves  that  we  are  to  fol- 
low them  to  their  new  home. 


4 


i 


Book  11. 


CHAPTEK  I. 

Into  the  IJNKNOWisr. 

FULLY  seventy  miles  west  of  the  scene 
where  the  first  chapters  of  this  story  were 

laid  is  a  small  settlement  composed  chiefly  of 
the  families  of  men  employed  in  the  adjacent 
mica  mines. 

A  small  valley  of  several  hundred  acres  runs 
np  hetween  two  spurs  of  a  high  range  of  moun- 
tains— a  fertile  valley  watered  by  a  limpid 
stream  that  abounds  in  the  famous  speckled 
trout,  and  lying  quite  three  thousand  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  sea. 

And  it  is  in  this  valley  that  the  settlement  of 
Mineville  lies. 

There  are  numerous  coves  indented  in  the 
mountains  about  the  settlement,  inhabited  bv 
men  whose  sole  vocation  seems  to  be  a  little  fish- 
ing in  summer,  hunting  in  the  fall,  and  loafing 
in  the  winter,  while  the  women  cook  for  them, 
gathering  their  own  wood  and  living  lives  of  lit- 
tle more  industry  than  the  men,  saving  in  this 
particular  branch. 


148  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

They  catcli  no  inspiration  from  the  march 
of  science  into  their  mountains,  nor  from  the 
men  in  their  neighborhood  who  have  come  there 
to  work. 

Their  highest  ambition  is  no  higher  than  the 
ownership  of  a  mountain  mule,  which  they 
would  be  too  poor  to  keep,  or  the  possession  of  a 
banjo,  which  they  would  never  be  able  to  keep  in 
tune  if  thev  owned. 

There  is  this  one  thing  to  be  said  for  them. 
They  are  certainly  not  worse  than  their  fathers 
or  grandfathers  before  them. 

They  never  knew  anyone  in  their  neighbor- 
hood who  lived  any  better  than  themselves,  and 
it  must  be  a  rare  occasion  that  would  inspire 
them  with  sufficient  energy  to  go  to  the  county 
seat  for  court  week. 

On  such  occasions  they  hitch  up  the  oxen,  if 
they  own  one,  or,  maybe,  "borry"  from  some 
neighbor  who  is  too  indifferent  to  go  himself, 
and  then,  if  it  be  summer  time,  they  gather  a 
bushel  or  two  of  the  fine  apples  or  peaches  that 
thrive  so  well  in  those  sheltered  coves,  and  with 
the  addition  of  several  pones  of  corn  bread,  and 
of  the  inevitable  jug  of  peach  or  apple  brandy, 
they  start  off  fully  equipped  for  the  journey 
and  for  the  sights  of  the  town. 

As  one  may  readily  imagine,  these  men  are 


Eeuhen  Dclton,  Preacher.  149 

not  athletic,  nor  are  the  women  reared  in  these 
coves  Ilebes,  though  one  may  occasionally  meet 
with  wonderfully  pretty  and  bright-faced  chil- 
dren among  them. 

We  all  know  how  much  environment  tells. 
We  read  much  of  the  simple  food  that  charac- 
terized the  fare  of  the  hardy  Scotch,  and  that 
was  supposed  to  nourish  the  splendid  brains  of 
that  land,  but  a  simple  diet  of  oatmeal  and  good 
milk  was  very  different  from  that  upon  which 
the  dwellers  in  hundreds  of  these  mountain 
coves  in  the  mountain  ranges  of  the  South  live. 
How  can  one  expect  either  bodily  or  mental 
development  from  a  class  that  live  on  a  diet  of 
ill-fed  i^ovh  with  only  the  coarsest  corn 
bread  ? 

If  you  question  this,  reader,  ask  some  of  the 
brave  souls  who  have  heard  the  Master's  call 
and  are  now  seeking  to  redeem  these  lost  sheep, 
and  to  bring  them  to  Christ  and  to  civilization. 

It  was  court  week  at  the  county  town  nearest 
to  Mineville,  and  one  evening  just  as  the  sun 
was  setting  behind  the  high  spur  of  the  Blue 
Ridge,  at  the  foot  of  which  the  village  nestled,  a 
neat,  new-covered  wagon  drove  do^\Ti  to  the  clear 
stream  that  ran  not  five  hundred  yards  away. 
There  was  a  good  camping  place  on  the  banks, 
but  there  were  already  two  small  two-wheeled 


150  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

ox-carts  on  the  spot ;  and  it  was  evident  tliat  the 
occupants  proposed  to  spend  the  night,  for  they 
were  quite  leisurely  taking  off  the  ropes  which 
served  as  the  onlv  harness  on  the  oxen. 

The  men  were  rough  and  unkempt,  and  while 
they  might  have  been  very  harmless,  certainly 
did  not  have  that  appearance. 

Reuben  Delton — for,  of  course,  it  is  Reuben 
and  Martliy  who  we  have  caught  up  with  at  last 
— Reuben  was  no  coward,  as  we  know,  but  he 
did  not  feel  that  he  had  any  right  to  subject 
Marthy  to  the  possibility  of  any  rudeness  these 
men  might  show. 

He  addressed  the  men  pleasantly. 

^^Good  evening,  strangers !" 

"Evenin' !"  one  man  responded,  the  other  gave 
an  indifferent  nod,  and  followed  it  up  by  a  hard 
stare  at  each  of  them  in  turn. 

"Is  there  any  good  stopping  house  near  where 
I  can  ffet  lodeino;  for  mv  wife  and  little  bov  ?" 

"Yas,"  the  spokesman  replied.  "I  'low  they'll 
take  you'  ims  in  up  at  Kinley's.  Whar  you  'uns 
stay  w^'en  you  stay  at  home?     An'  whar  you 


'uns  ffoin'  ?" 


These  questions  followed  so  quickly  on  the  in- 
formation given  in  reference  to  a  stopping  place 
that  Reuben  felt  compelled  to  gratify  their  curi- 
osity before  asking  where  the  house  was. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  151 

^'WeVe  come  from  over  in  Waiitauga  county, 
and  are  going  to  settle  about  thirty  miles  beyond 
here." 

By  this  time  both  the  men  were  examining 
the  harness,  and  every  part  of  the  wagon,  and 
peering  curiously  inside,  where  Marthy  sat,  and 
from  whence  little  Greyson  was  staring  at  them 
with  a  doubtful  expression  of  pleasure  on  his 
face. 

^'This  you  'uns  wagon,  I  'low.  Hit  must  ha' 
cost  a  sight !  That  be  your  woman  in  thar  ? 
How  old's  yer  little  un  ?" 

There  is  no  telling  how  many  more  questions 
Keuben  would  have  been  plied  with  if  he  had 
not  learned  how  to  put  a  stop  to  this  sort  of 
thing. 

He  looked  at  them  quite  pleasantly,  and  then 
getting  up  into  the  wagon  and  taking  the  reins 
from  ]\Iarthy,  said,  ^^Yes,  friends,  this  is  my 
wagon,  and  this  is  my  wife,  and  that's  my  little 
boy,  and  now  I  must  say  good-bye,  for  it  is  late. 
Good  evening." 

^^Evenin'  "  thev  called  after  him  as  he  drove 
into  the  ford  of  the  pretty  stream. 

^'Preacher,"  said  ^Earthy,  softly,  laying  her 
hand  on  Tteuben's  arm,  ^^it  hurts  me  worse  to 
cross  a  river  than  to  cross  a  mountain;  water 
seems  to  separate  you  so  from  what's  behind 


vou." 


152  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

Reuben  laid  his  unemployed  hand  on  her's 
affectionately  and  said,  with  a  smile,  ^^Oh !  I 
don't  think  so,  little  woman.  It's  just  like  you 
to  have  a  different  ^think'  about  it  from  other 
people.  Water  is  a  lot  easier  to  cross  than  moun- 
tains." 

Marthy  brushed  a  tear  away  furtively.  She 
had  tried  so  hard  to  be  brave,  and  had  stood  the 
ordeal  of  the  grief  of  the  people,  and  of  saying 
good-bye,  and  of  packing  and  turning  her  back 
on  the  mountain  manse  with  a  courage  that 
Eeuben  was  proud  of,  but  when  they  reached 
their  camping  j^lace  the  first  night,  and  had  fin- 
ished supper  and  prayers,  and  had  laid  down  on 
their  pallet,  and  both  Reuben  and  little  Grey- 
son  were  asleep,  she  had  given  way  for  the  first 
time  to  her  grief,  and  with  the  child-like  sim- 
plicity of  the  little  Marthy  we  used  to  know, 
had  cried  with  deep  sobs :  ^^O  God !  please  for- 
give me.  I  mean  to  do  thy  will,  but  I  must  cry 
a  little  bit.  Please  give  me  strength  to  be  cheer- 
ful and  to  help  my  husband  as  a  true  wife 
should."  She  cried  herself  to  sleep,  and  waked 
in  the  morning  strengthened  and  refreshed  and 
satisfied  that  her  prayer  had  been  heard. 

A  long  rocky  hill  road  led  up  from  the  ford  of 
the  river  into  Farmville,  and  at  the  summit  of 
the  hill,  and  the  first  house  in  the  village,  stood 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  153 

"Kinley's/'  as  the  men  had  called  the  village 
hotel,  with  its  pretentious  sign,  ^The  Famiville 
Hotel.''  It  was  a  long,  two-storied  house,  with 
a  piazza  running  the  length  of  the  house,  shaded 
by  four  or  five  splendid  hemlock  trees. 

Eeuben  had  decided  that  Marthy  and  Greyson 
should  spend  the  night  here,  while  he  slept  in 
the  wagon  to  guard  their  baggage. 

It  was  an  exciting  thing  to  the  simple-hearted 
preacher's  wife  to  sleep  in  even  such  a  hotel  as 
this  was,  and  they  had  more  than  one  laugh  over 
her  questions.  She  did  not  remember  ever  hav- 
ing done  so,  excepting  the  time  when  Miss 
Greyson  had  taken  her  to  Asheville  while  she 
was  a  school  2;irl. 

"Preacher,  what  do  you  say  when  you  go  in  ? 
Must  you  sit  down  a  while  or  ask  for  your  room  ? 
There'll  be  some  summer  boarders  there,  I 
know;  they  are  everywhere  now-a-days.  I  won- 
der what  they'll  say  to  us  ?  I  wonder  if  we'll 
get  a  good  supper  ?  Must  I  put  a  clean  dress  on 
baby  ?" 

Reuben  was  much  amused,  but  his  reply  was 
so  sensible  that  Marthy  found  her  nervousness 
allayed  by  it,  and  admired  her  husband  more 
than  ever. 

•  "Just  be  yourself,  little  woman.  Don't  try 
to  appear  what  you  are  not.     I  think  you  are 


154 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


hard  to  beat,  and  ^vill  be  glad  to  show  my  wife 
to  any  snmmer  boarders  we  may  find  here.  I 
donbt  if  you  get  sncli  a  supper  as  you  can  cook, 
but  don't  make  out  that  you  can't  eat.  Put  a 
clean  apron  on  the  boy,  for,  whatever  we  do, 
or  don't  do,  we  want  to  look  like  respectable 
folks.    We  owe  that  to  the  Master." 

They  drove  up  to  the  gate,  and  the  landlord 
came  out,  and  Reuben  explained  the  situation 
and  helped  Marthy  and  the  little  boy  out. 

Greyson's  big  brown  eyes  were  wide  open  Avith 
wonder. 

"Mummie,  vere  dis  ?    Vat  ve  dittin'  out  for  ?" 

Just  in  front  of  the  entrance  there  was  a  group 
consisting  of  the  judge  and  several  lawyers 
and  a  few  summer  giiests ;  at  the  other  end  of 
the  long  piazza  several  ladies  were  gathered. 

The  young  couple  attracted  attention  at  once. 

^'That's  a  fine-looking  fellow,"  said  the  judge 
to  one  on  the  lawvers  sittins:  bv  him.  ^'He  is  to 
the  manner  born,  too,  I  reckon ;  and  the  little 
wife — look  how  well  she  carries  herself !  The 
boy  is  just  such  a  lookino-  child  as  vou  would 
expect  to  hear  call  that  fellow  papa  !  I  say, 
Kinley !"  he  called  to  the  landlord  after  they 
had  disappeared  in  the  house,  ^Svho  are  your 
friends  ?" 

^T  don't  know  them,  judge,  but  they  regis- 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  155 

tered  as  Reuben  Delton,  wife  and  child,  Wau- 


?j 


tanga 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on  Marthy 
had  been  taken  to  a  room  and  Eeuben  had  gone 
out  to  lT>ok  after  Deliaht  and  Jobo.  He  came 
in,  and  after  liavino;  done  his  share  of  washing 
and  hair  brushing,  they  went  down  to  supper, 
which  they  took  in  company  with  several  sum- 
mer boarders  who  had  just  returned  from  a 
mountain  scramble  and  were  seated  at  the  ex- 
treme end  of  the  table  from  them. 

The  first  glance  at  our  friends  left  the  im- 
pression on  at  least  one  of  the  company  that 
they  were  ^^just  mountain  people,"  and  she 
turned  her  attention  to  the  fried  chicken  and  hot 
biscuits,  for  which  she  seemed  to  have  an  un- 
limited capacity ;  but  there  were  two  others  pres- 
ent who  were  better  students  of  physiognomy, 
and  as  we  are  privileged,  reader,  let  us  listen  to 
them  while  the  Deltons  finish  their  supper. 

"Madge,  look  at  that  young  man's  face ;  he  is 
better  than  handsome;  and  notice  how  he  car- 
ries himself." 

"Yes,  he  is  fine  looking.  His  eyes  especially 
so,  and  his  broAv  is  good,"  replied  the  younger 
woman,  criticallv. 

"Why,  my  dear,  he  is  a  prince  in  Jeans  !  And 
his  wife  is  nice  looking,  too ;  quite  pretty  when 


156 


Reiihen  Delton,  Preacher. 


?? 


she  smiles.     The  boy  is  a  splendid  little  fellow. 

"They  can't  be  common  people,  Tante,  for  see 
what  nice  table  manners.  Let's  try  to  inter- 
view them  after  supper."  All  this  was  said  in 
tones  too  low  to  be  heard  by  the  Deltons,  who 
left  the  table  before  the  others. 

While  they  were  standing  at  the  end  of  the 
nnr ailed  porch,  and  Reuben  was  pointing  to 
Marthy  where  the  last  view  of  the  Wautauga 
mountains  could  be  seen,  the  ladies  who  had 
commented  on  them  at  table  drew  near  and 
politely  asked  some  questions  by  way  of  making 
acquaintance. 

Then  they  stooped  to  notice  Greyson,  but  the 
child  was  tired  and  clune:  shvlv  to  his  mother's 
dress. 

"S]Deak  to  the  ladies,  Greyson,"  said  Marthy, 
taking  his  hand  up  suggestively. 

"How  d'ye,  ladies,"  said  the  little  man,  and 
oifering  his  hand,  though  the  tears  welled  up  in 
his  lovelv  eves. 

"Tell  the  ladies  your  name  now,"  said  Marthy 
with  a  quick  perception  that  this  would  be  the 
pleasantest  way  to  introduce  herself. 

"Geysie  Delton ;  Preacher  Deltons'  boy." 

"This  is  Mrs.  Delton  then,"  said  the  elder 
lady,  cordially,  "and  I  am  Mrs.  Thurston,  and 
this  is  my  niece,  Miss  Traymor.     We  are  glad 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  157 

to  meet  yon.  Have  you  made  a  long  trip  to- 
day V 

Keiiben  had  joined  the  crowd  of  men  at  the 
other  end  of  the  porch  after  he  had  answered 
the  questions  put  to  him,  for  he  wanted  Marthy 
to  be  thrown  upon  herself,  feeling  sure  that  she 
would  in  this  way  best  overcome  her  shyness. 

"^o'm/'  said  Marthy  in  reply  to  Mrs.  Thurs- 
ton's question. 

"We  have  only  come  about  thirty  miles  to- 
day, but  that  is  good  travelling  over  mountain 
roads,  and  with  a  heavy  load." 

Miss  Traymor  had  brought  some  chairs,  and 
Marthy,  thanking  her,  accepted  one  ^nd  took 
her  little  boy  on  her  lap. 

In  a  few  moments  she  found  herself  talk- 
ing quite  freely  to  these  cordial  people.  She 
told  them  when  they  had  left  home,  and  that 
they  were  moving  away,  at  least  for  a  while. 

"And  may  I  ask  how  much  further  you  are 
going  V^  asked  the  younger  lady  in  a  tone  of  in- 
terest. 

"I  think  my  husband  said  it  is  about  thirty 
miles  farther." 

"And  so  you  are  going  to  a  new  home  ?"  asked 
Mrs.  Thurston.  Both  watched  Marthy  with  in- 
terest. 

"Yes,"  said  Marthy,  a  shadow  falling  on  her 


158  Reiiben  Delton,  Preacher. 

bright  face  as  she  spoke.  ''My  husband  is  a 
preacher,  and  Ave  are  going  over  about  thirty 
miles  from  here  to  a  mining  settlement." 

Mar  thy  found  herself  telling  in  her  simple, 
earnest  way  the  story  of  their  mountain  work, 
and  of  their  strong  conviction  that  it  was  the 
dutv  of  everv  educated  Christian  mountaineer 
to  uplift  those  about  him. 

These  people  from  another  And  distant  place, 
with  verv  crude  notions  as  to  the  mountain 
whites  of  the  South,  looked  into  the  earnest  and 
refined  face  of  this  young  mountain  woman  w^ith 
a  new  interest.  And  thev  found  themselves 
looking  Tip,  and  not  down,  though,  according  to 
the  world's  estimate,  they  occupied  a  much 
higher  social  elevation. 

The  air  was  growing  chill,  the  little  boy  had 
cuddled  up  in  his  mother's  arms  and  was  almost 
asleep. 

"I  must  get  you  to  excuse  me,  ladies,"  Marthy 
said  with  a  smile.  ''This  boy  ought  to  be  in 
bed,  for  we  must  make  an  early  start  in  the 
morning." 

"Are  you  going  so  soon  ?  ^Vhy,  we  are  sorry," 
said  Miss  Travmor,  who  felt  sure  that  she  had 
come  upon  a  new  and  very  interesting  phase  of 
mountain  character. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  159 

''Yes,  we  must  be  off  as  soon  after  dayliglit 
as  my  husband  can  get  bis  team  fed  and  bitched 
up.  We  will  not  wait  for  breakfast.  I  will 
cook  that  at  tbe  first  good  spring  we  come  to." 

''Good-bye  tben !  I  wisb  yon  all  prosperity 
and  success  in  your  new  bome,"  said  Mrs.  Thurs- 
ton, cordially. 

"Good-bye,"  returned  Marthy,  and  added, 
cordially,  "If  in  some  of  your  mountain  tramps 
you  should  come  near  Peach  Cove,  we  will  be 
glad  to  see  you." 

Miss  Trajmior  stood  silently  for  a  few  mo- 
ments watching  Marthy's  retreating  figure,  and 
a  strange  new  pang  of  envy  filled  her  heart  for 
a  moment. 

"She  is  living ;  living  means  growth,  it  means 
fruitfulness.  What  have  I  ever  done  to  prove 
that  I  am  truly  living  ?" 

At  breakfast  table  the  next  morning,  as  the 
ladies  began  to  assemble,  the  judge  called  out, 
"Who  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  preacher's 
nice  little  wife?  If  she  is  as  bright  and  as 
clever  in  her  way  as  her  husband,  she  was  worth 
cultivating." 

"Ask  Auntie,"  replied  Miss  Traymor,  "if 
you  want  to  hear  from  an  enthusiastic  admir- 
er !"  and  she  glanced  smilingly  at  Mrs.  Thurs- 
ton. 


160  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

^^She  was  certainly  an  extremely  attractive 
woman,  and  talks  well;  and  if  her  husband  is 
as  brave  and  earnest  as  she  is,  they  will  do  a 
grand  work.'' 

"Well,  he  is  a  fine  fellow.  What  a  specimen 
of  manhood  he  is  !  Erect,  with  well-knit  limbs, 
with  not  a  siiperfluons  ponnd  of  flesh,  and  a 
light  in  his  eye  of  healthy,  intelligent  purpose 
that  is  perfectly  refreshing  to  see." 

It  was  Judge  Carroman  who  spoke,  and 
doubtless  he  would  have  been  glad  if  Reuben 
Delton  could  have  returned  the  compliment. 
His  own  figure  being  small  and  slender,  and  his 
Avhole  appearance  indicating  that  he  was  reap- 
ing now  what  was  left  of  the  wild  oats  crop  of 
his  vouth. 

"He  uses  good,  strong  English,  too,"  re- 
marked the  professor,  approvingly. 

"Educated  away  from  this  region,  I  guess  ?" 
asked  some  one. 

"^ot  until  after  he  entered  the  Theological 
Seminary,  he  told  me,"  said  the  judge.  "I  am 
very  glad  to  know  that  the  schools  throughout 
this  part  of  our  State  are  being  taken  in  hand 
as  a  part  of  the  church's  work.  Religion  and 
education  ought  to  go  hand  in  hand,"  he  added, 
sententiously. 

"How  can  they?"  asked  a  young  man  who 


I 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  161 

had  just  taken  his  place  at  the  table.  He  asked 
in  such  a  contemptuons  tpne  that  Judge  Carro 
man  felt  the  sluggish  blood  mount  to  his  cheeks. 
Somehow,  the  question  seemed  to  lay  bare  his 
inconsistency,  for  he  knew  how  far  ahead  his 
intellectual  attainments  were  in  comparison 
with  the  spiritual  gifts  that  should  be  possessed 
by  a  man  holding  such  an  opinion.  He  did  not 
reply,  indeed,  he  had  not  time,  for  Mrs.  Thurs- 
ton said  quietly,  ^'You  speak  doubtingly,  Mr. 
Seymour,  but  you  will  find  happily  that  many 
wise  and  brioiit  men  believe  this  consistentlv." 

!Now  the  young  man  had  no  idea  of  entering 
into  an  argument  on  this  tiresome  subject,  least 
of  all,  with  a  woman ;  and  then  he  did  not  wish 
to  irritate  Mrs.  Thurston,  for  she  was  really  the 
least  boring  to  him  of  all  the  women  in  the 
house,  so  that  he  only  replied  by  bowing  his 
haughty,  handsome  head  and  shrugging  his 
shoulders. 

^^It  takes  all  my  energy  to  discuss  the  steak 
this  morning,  Mrs.  Thurston,  so  you  will  surely 
excuse  my  replying,"  and  he  began  to  exert  his 
energy  at  once. 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on  Reuben 
and  Marthy  were  wending  their  way  slowly 
over  roads  that  seemed  to  ffrow  more  rockv  as 
they  advanced. 


162  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

Thej  had  started  at  five  o'clock,  and  had 
reached  the  spring,  where  they  had  been  ad- 
vised to  breakfast,  by  seven. 

Reuben  had  made  Marthy's  fir©  for  their 
simple  meal,  reqiTiring  only  heat  enough  to 
boil  the  water  for  their  coffee,  and  coals  upon 
which  to  broil  the  meat,  for  they  were  well  sup- 
plied with  cold  bread. 

^'We  did  well  when  we  set  the  stove  in  that 
box,  didn't  we,  preacher  ?  It  has  not  jostled  one 
bit.  But  won't  we  be  glad  when  we  can  set  it 
up  and  have  a  good  meal  of  hot  food  once  more  ?" 

"Yes'h,  mummie,  an'  hot  bisky,  too!"  re- 
marked Greyson,  taking  part  unexpectedly  in 
the  conversation,  greatly  to  the  amusement  of 
his  parents. 

This  day's  journey  took  them  through  some 
beautiful  countrv,  but  what  both  missed  out  of 
the  landscape,  more  than  they  could  tell,  were 
those  distant  views,  those  glimpses  of  ethereal 
beauty  that  seemed  to  link  heaven  and  earth  so 
closely  over  in  Wautauga. 

Marthy  thought,  with  swelling  heart,  that  it 
was  like  a  house  would  be  w^ithout  a  mother  in 
it,  and  she  stifled  a  sob  as  she  wondered  how 
she  could  live  without  this  constant  reminder  of 
heaven. 

The  valleys  were  rich,  the  meadows  showed 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  163 

that  the  crops  had  been  fine,  the  high  wooded 
hills  that  shut  them  like  giant  hedges  were  gor- 
o-eoiis  with  thousands  of  tints,  for  there  was  a 
wonderful  variety  of  forest  trees,  and  every 
family  carefully  preserved  its  own  shade  of 
color. 

The  beautiful  stream  by  which  the  road 
wound,  or  occasionally  crossed,  added  the  charm 
of  its  limj)id  water  to  the  scene. 

There  were  farm  houses  every  few  miles  along 
this  fertile  valley,  many  of  them  comfortable 
homes. 

At  one  where  they  stopped  to  water  they  were 
greeted  with  especial  cordiality. 

"Come  in  an'  eat  dinner,  strangers,  "an'  tell 
whar  you  'uns  is  goin'"  said  the  hospitable  old 
man.  "ISTervy !"  he  called  to  his  wife,  "come  out 
yere  an'  tell  w'at  yer  got  fur  dinner,  an'  mebby 
ther  strangers'll  stop  over." 

"isTervy"  came  to  the  door,  folloAved  by  two 
young  women,  two  small  boys,  and,  lastly  and 
very  slowly,  by  a  decrepit  old  woman. 

The  wife  had  a  kindly  pleasant  face,  and  fol- 
lowed up  her  husband's  invitation  by  saying, 
"Won't  you  'light,  stranger,  an'  take  ther  bes'  we 
'uns  kin  give  you  ?  Your  little  b'y  an'  yer  crit- 
ters'll  be  ther  better  fur  it." 

After  a  moment's  consultation,  Eeuben  de- 


164  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

cided  that  it  might  be  well  to  stop,  though  they 
had  fifteen  miles  of  rough  road  to  travel  yet. 

^^We  ought  to  know  all  the  people  Avithin 
twenty  miles  of  our  cove,  I  think,  Marthy.'' 
Then  he  turned  and  said,  ^'Well,  sir,  I  believe 
we  will  stop  with  you,  as  you  are  so  kind.  We 
were  going  to  take  dinner  by  the  roadside  to-day, 
but  won't  be  sorrv  to  ffet  a  hot  one." 

^^That's  it !  that's  it !  'lioiit  an'  come  in  !  An' 
w'at  mought  yer  name  be,  an'  whar  d'  you  come 
f  rum  ?" 

^'My  name  is  Reuben  Delton.  I  am  a  preacher, 
and  I'm  going  over  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Peach  Cove  to  settle  for  a  while  and  do  mv  Mas- 
ter's  work.  We  come  from  Wautauga,  between 
Blowing  Rock  and  Linville,  where  I  have 
worked  for  four  vears." 

^'Well !  well !  Do  say  !  I'm  monst'ous  glad 
ter  feed  a  preacher ;  so  is  jSTervy.  Come  in ! 
come  in !"  he  repeated  as  Marthy,  putting  little 
Greyson  in  his  father's  arms,  got  dow^n  from  the 
wagon. 

1^0  princely  owner  of  one  of  the  country's 
palatial  homes  could  have  offered  more  cordial 
welcome  than  he  did  as  he  held  open  the  gate 
heavilv  leaded  with  old  iron  to  make  it  shut  to. 

They  passed  through  and  up  into  the  porch, 
shaking    hands    with    the    old    woman,    whose 


Eeuhen  DeUon,  Preacher.  165 

wrinkled,  loatlierv  face  had  caught  some  of  the 
glow  of  her  son's  hospitality. 

There  was  a  great  commotion,  not  only  in  the 
house,  hut  in  the  hack  yard,  by  this  time,  and 
as  the  chickens  were  making  decided  demonstra- 
tions of  disapproval,  it  was  reasonable  to  sup- 
pose that  they  w^ere  to  have  fried  chicken  for 
dinner ! 

As  she  stepped  on  to  the  piazza,  Marthy  said, 
''We  will  just  sit  here.  It  is  so  nice  and  cool, 
and  my  little  boy  can  run  around  out  doors." 

''Well,"  said  old  Mrs.  Curder,  "but  you  mus' 
rest  your  hat  a  while  an'  make  yerself  gen' ally 
comfortable.  l\Iy  name  is  Curder ;  w'at  mought 
vourn  be  ?" 

She  had  not  heard  Eeuben  give  his  name  to 
^^Fr.  Curder. 

"I  do  sav !"  she  exclaimed  in  tones  of  great 
delight  when  Marthy  gave  her  name  and  told 
her  that  her  husband  was  a  preacher. 

Reuben  had  unharnessed  Delight  and  Jobo, 
the  fine  little  mule,  and  had  taken  them  to  the 
stable  yard,  where  his  host  was  probably  putting 
him  through  a  catechism  as  to  his  past  life  and 
future  plans.  And  Marthy,  on  the  porch,  with 
a  patient  consideration  born  partly  of  her  sym- 
pathy with  all  innocent  curiosity,  and  partly  of 
her  understanding  of  these  lives  shut  in  to  the 


166  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

monotonous  living  where  tlie  windows  of  books 
and  papers  never  open  to  give  them  glimpses 
of  the  world  beyond — Marthy  was  telling  of 
her  home,  of  her  school  days,  and  of  her  friend, 
Miss  Grey  son;  of  her  marriage,  and  of  her  life 
at  the  mountain  manse. 

"  'Pears  like  it  were  a  monst'ons  pity  yon 
'nns  tu'nned  yer  backs  on  yer  people  an'  yer 
honse  to  come  so  far.  Whar  you  'uns  be  go- 
in'  ?" 

^^Oh !  but  there's  so  much  to  do  for  people, 
and  so  many  worse  off  than  we  are,  and  we  are 
going  to  try  to  find  some  and  help  them.  We 
are  going  over  to  Peach  Cove.  You  know  that 
new  mining  settlement,  Mineville  ?" 

Mrs.  Curder  stepped  to  the  door  just  in  time 
to  hear  Marthv's  last  remark. 

"Peach  Cove!  Lors,  honey,  you  'uns  don' 
know  whar  you're  goin' !  Wy,  Tim  Curder 
kin  tell  vou  ther  ain't  no  sich  a  God-forsaken 
neighborhood  no  whar  in  ^orth  Caliny,  I 
reckon !" 

Marthv  shuddered  when  she  heard  this,  but 
replied  almost  instantly,  "That  makes  it  all  the 
more  necessary  for  us  to  go.  And  it  was  for 
such  sinners  that  Jesus  died.  Don't  you  believe 
that,  Mrs.  Curder  ?" 

"Well,  honey,  it  do  say  so,  but  it  do  'pear 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  167 

migiitv  hard  ter  b'lieve  it  wiis  sich  as  Peach 
Cove  folks !'' 

Just  then  one  of  the  yoimg  women  came  to 
the  door  and  said,  ^^Mar,  ther  dinner  is  sot/' 
which  Mrs.  Cnrder  followed  np  by  rising  and 
saying,  ^^Come  in,  Miss  Delton,  an'  welcome." 

From  the  porch  the  men  were  summoned  by 
a  horn,  and  in  a  few  moments  Reuben  followed 
Marthy  to  the  table  where  Mr.  Curder  asked 
him  to  ^^make  a  beginnin'."  This  being  the  old 
man's  quaint  way  of  requesting  him  to  ask  a 
blessing,  which  Reuben  did  reverently,  asking 
a  blessing  for  the  f amilj^  as  well  as  for  the  food. 

"An'  now  you  see  w'ats  befo'  you,  an'  you 
'uns  is  welcome  to  all  you  'uns  kin  eat,  an'  if 
yer  caint  fin'  nothin'  ter  please  ye,  w'y,  you  kin 
jest  set  back  yer  chair  an'  leave." 

He  rubbed  his  hands  together  in  deep  satis- 
faction, and  was  evidently  highly  pleased  with 
the  appearance  of  the  table,  which  was  abund- 
antly supplied  with  everything  they  could  fur- 
nish on  such  short  notice. 

Reuben  and  Marthv,  accustomed  to  these 
kindly  mountain  hospitalities,  knew  how  to  as- 
sure them  that  they  would  find  no  trouble  mak- 
ing a  hearty  meal. 

Dinner,  even  where  there  is  such  an  abund- 
ant "spread"  as  the  generous  hospitality  of  the 


168  Reiihen  Delton,  Preacher. 

Cnrders  had  provided,  is  not  a  very  long  meal 
with  the  mountaineers,  and  the  Deltons  had 
soon  finished  dinner  and  were  on  the  porch 
again. 

"Well,  preacher,  I  wish  yon  'nns  didn't  feel 
called  on  ter  c;o  on  this  evenin'.  We'd  trv  ter  fin' 
ye  a  place  ter  sleep." 

"We  are  sure  of  that,  ^Er.  Cnrder,  but  we 
must  get  on  as  far  as  we  can.  We  hope,  though, 
to  come  to  see  you  again  some  day.  This  boy 
seems  to  be  pretty  well  satisfied  here."  Reuben 
turned  to  look  at  Greyson,  who  was  walking 
about  with  a  boy  on  either  side. 

"Mr.  Cnrder,"  added  Eeuben,  ^^you  and  Mrs. 
Curder  have  put  yourselves  to  a  lot  of  trouble 
for  us.     I  wish  you  would  let  me  pay  you." 

"Well !  well  I  do  you  'uns  over  in  Wautauga 
let  your  frien's  pay  Av'en  they  come  to  see  you  ? 
Iso,  sir !  Tim  Curder  ain't  no  great  shakes  in 
religion,  but  he  counts  it  a  mighty  good  day 
w'en  he  gits  a  chance  ter  feed  a  sure  'nough 
preacher  an'  his  wife  an'  chile." 

And  he  shook  his  head  so  positively  that 
Reuben  put  up  his  pocket  book,  and  after  good- 
byes had  been  said,  and  promises  to  come  again 
had  been  made,  thev  drove  off. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  thev  reached  the  Cross 
Roads,  where  they  had  been  advised  to  stop  for 


Eeiihen  DeJton,  Preacher.  169 

at  least  the  last  night  of  their  journey.  It  was 
two  miles  over  rough  roads  to  Mineville,  and 
Reuben  had  been  told  that  it  would  not  be  pos- 
sible for  them  to  find  a  stopping  place  there. 

The  house  was  a  dingy,  unpainted  two-storied 
buikling,  altogether  unattractive  in  appearance. 

When  they  stopped  in  front  of  the  house 
there  were  two  rough-looking  men  smoking  on 
the  porch. 

"Good  evening/'  said  Reuben;  "is  this 
Measons  ?" 

"Wa-al,  mabby  so/'  replied  one  in  a  tone  of 
perfect  indifference.  The  other,  however, 
roused  up^  and,  taking  his  pipe  from  his  mouth, 
said,  "Ef  you  'uns  is  summer  boarders,  we  'uns 
caint  take  vou  'uns  in.  It  takes  nio'li  on  ter 
half  a  dav  to  oit  thing's  fixed,  an'  then  thev  don' 
suit  ther  fool  notions  of  sich." 

Reuben  laughed  out  in  such  a  good-natured, 
contagious  way  that  a  sour  smile  crept  about  the 
man's  mouth. 

"Why,  no !  We  are  just  Wautauga  countv 
people,  and  we  are  bound  for  ^Mineville,  but  I 
was  told  we  had  better  stop  with  you  to-night  if 
vou  could  take  us  in." 

*j 

"W'at  moufi'ht  be  ver  name  ?"  asked  the  first 
man,  showing  considerably  more  interest  than 
at  first. 


170 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


^'My  name  is  Delton,  and  tliis  is  my  wife, 
and  this  is  my  little  boy/'  lie  added,  laying  his 
hand  on  the  head  of  the  sleeping  child. 

By  this  time  a  tall,  thin,  sour-faced  woman, 
with  a  baby  in  her  arms,  had  come  to  the  door, 
and  a  yonng  girl  was  peeping  round  the  corner 
of  the  house. 

^'Be  you  ther  preacher  I  heerd  wus  a-comin' 
over  ter  Peach  Gove  neighborhood  ?" 

They  seemed  actually  to  have  forgotten 
Reuben's  questions  as  to  lodgings,  but  it  was 
only  seeming  forgetfulness.  They  were  really 
trying  to  satisfy  themselves  that  these  were 
really  mountain  j)eople.  And  Reuben  and 
Marthy  said  afterwards  that  they  had  never 
come  nearer  disoAvning  their  work  than  they 
did  that  evening,  for  they  saw  that  there  was  a 
strong  prejudice  against  summer  boarders,  and 
feared  that  it  might  extend  to  preachers  and 
their  wives.  It  was  not  that  the  house  appeared 
very  inviting,  but  that,  from  all  accounts,  they 
might  go  further  and  fare  worse. 

^'Yes'm,  I  am  the  man,  and  I  hoj)e  that  I  am 
going  to  find  as  many  friends  over  here  as  we 
left  behind  us  in  Wautauga.  My  wife  and  I 
were  both  raised  over  there." 

A  scowl  lowered  on  the  face  of  the  first  man  to 
w]iom  Reuben  had  spoken,  and  he  turned  away. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  Ill 

The  other  one  said,  '''Well,  yon  'nns  kin  'light 
ef  ther  ole  woman's  willin'  ter  git  ye  a  bite  o' 
snpper.    AYe  'nns  ate  an  honr  ago." 

He  tnrned  and  looked  over  his  shonlder  at 
his  wife,  and  she  responded  with  a  nod,  for  she 
saw  an  opportnnity  for  mnch  investigation  and 
mncli  gossip. 

"We  'nns  don'  set  no  store  particklar  by 
preachers.  The  meanest  man  in  this  connty 
calls  himself  a  preacher,  an'  ther  ain't  no  man 
kin  beat  him  in  a  hoss  trade,  bnt,"  he  added 
with  a  feeble  smile,  "von  don'  look  that  aways." 

Renben  was  on  his  gnard,  and  made  no  reply 
to  the  last  remark,  bnt  took  Grevson  in  his  arms 
and  helped  !Marthy  to  the  gronnd. 

As  they  passed  throngh  the  gateway,  the 
woman  stepped  down  from  the  door-sill  and 
gave  a  little  nod  in  response  to  jMarthy's  "good 


evening." 


She  led  the  wav  to  a  room  at  the  other  end  of 
the  porch,  and,  opening  the  door,  said,  "Yon 
kin  iest  lay  vonr  baby  donn  till  ve  s^it  readv  ter 
tnrn  in  yerself." 

There  were  three  beds  in  the  room,  all  cov- 
ered with  dirty  homespnn  spreads.  The  floor 
was  dirty.  On  the  walls  himg  several  snits  of 
clothing  in  various  degrees  of  shabbiness,  with 
hats  to  match.     The  air  was  foul  with  the  odors 


172  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

of  tobacco  smoke  and  wliiskey  that  had  been  con- 
fined there,  nobody  knows  how  long,  for  every 
window  was  do^^Ti. 

Marthy  shnddered  at  the  idea  of  laving  her 
sweet,  clean  boy  on  snch  a  bed,  and,  standing  at 
the  door,  she  made  an  excnse  to  get  something 
out  of  the  wagon,  still  holding  Greyson  in  her 
arms. 

"I  think,"  she  said,  ^'T  will  get  a  shawl  to 
wrap  him  in.     Can  I  have  a  fire  ?" 

"La  !  yes.  Yon  Ma'y  Jane,  you  Liny !  come 
ver  some  o'  von  'uns  an'  ketch  up  a  fire.  Ther 
b'ys  mos'  alters  make  it  w^'en  they  come  in.  You 
need'n  bother  ter  git  you  a  shawl,  jes  double 
ther  kiver  over  him." 

"I'll  need  the  shawl,"  Marthy  replied  very 
firmly,  and  she  went  out  to  the  wagon,  followed 
by  Mrs.  ]\Ieason,  who  was  evidently  intent  upon 
seeing  all  she  could  of  Marthy's  belongings. 

There  was  little  sleep  that  night  for  the  Del- 
tons,  even  after  thev  had  aired  the  room  and 
had  provided  themselves  surreptitiously  with 
sheets  from  the  wagon.  It  was  not  a  new  expe- 
rience for  Reuben,  who  had  spent  many  nights 
away  up  in  the  mountains  in  cabins  where  the 
whole  family  occupied  the  same  room  and  slept 
on  the  floor,  but  it  was  certainly  a  new  expe- 
rience for  Marthy.     LTer  people  were  very  poor, 


Reiiben  Delton,  Preacher.  173 

but  they  had  preserved  the  traditions  of  a  re- 
spectable ancestry,  and  had  been  aided  in  keep- 
ing them  by  association  with  a  class  of  people 
who  were  sufficiently  well-to-do  to  afford  many 
of  the  comforts  the  Lesters  did  not  possess. 

For  months  after  that  first  night  spent  at 
!A[eason's  Cross  Eoads,  Ifarthv  was  moved  to 
lauohter  and  to  tears  by  the  recollection  of  her 
experiences. 

^^They  called  me  a  ^living  interrogation  point' 
at  school,  preacher,  but  all  the  questions  I  ever 
asked  would  hardly  count  up  to  the  questions 
Mrs.  Meason  put  to  me  that  night  before  you 
came  in,  and  such  questions !" 

Before  thev  retired  Reuben  said,  "Mr. 
Meason,  at  home  we  always  read  a  few  verses 
from  the  Bible,  and  pray  to  God  to  keep  us 
safely  through  the  ni^ht.  Would  you  let  me 
have  family  prayers  here  ?" 

"Well,  ve  kin  if  you're  a  min'  to.  I  don'  take 
no  stock  in  any  sich  myself." 

He  lighted  his  pipe  and  tilted  his  chair 
against  the  side  of  the  chimney  with  a  defiant 
air. 

"I'm  sorry  for  vou  then,"  said  Reuben 
quietly.  "I've  never  seen  a  man  vet  who  tried 
to  serve  God,  and  who  read  his  Bible  and  prayed, 
but  was  a  better  citizen  and  a  happier  man.     I 


174:  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

hope  I  shall  be  able  to  make  you  think  so  too 
some  day.  Just  listen  to  this,"  he  added,  open- 
ing his  Bible  quickly  and  reading  a  short 
passage  from  the  gospel  of  Matthew,  explain- 
ing as  he  read. 

Mrs.  Meason  had  gone  to  the  water  bucket 
and  was  getting  a  drink,  when  Reuben  said 
firmly  but  gently,  ^'Mrs.  Meason,  this  is  God's 
book ;  won't  vou  sit  down  while  I  read  ?  I 
think  we  ought  to  respect  our  Bibles  as  if  they 
were  living  messengers  from  God." 

Mrs.  Meason  sat  down  in  utter  astonishment. 
This  man  was  different  from  any  preacher  she 
had  yet  seen. 

^^I\^ow  let  us  kneel  down  while  I  pray." 
It  is  doubtful  if  Mr.  Meason  had  ever  bent 
his  knees  in  prayer  before,  but  there  was  that  in 
Reuben's  manner  that  compelled  not  only  re- 
spect, but  acquiescence,  so  that  he  took  his  pipe 
from  his  mouth  and  kneeled  down.  His  wife 
did  so  too,  but  the  two  girls,  who  had  just  come 
into  the  room,  leaned  up  against  the  wall  and 
tittered  in  a  silly  way. 

When  they  rose  from  their  knees,  Meason 
said  in  a  half-serious  manner,  "Well,  now,  who 
writ  that  book,  anvwavs?  That's  w'at  I  been 
a-tryin'  ter  git  at.  These  yer  preachers  w'at 
come  'long  yere,   they  don'   fool  wid   it  long 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  175 

ernough.  ter  know.  Ther's  one  over  yander  in 
Hickry  Cove — well,  he  don'  own  a  Bible  ter 
his  name.  He  'lows  ter  fin'  one  in  ther  pulpit, 
an'  liaint  no  use  fur  'em  nowhar  else." 

Reuben  did  not  know  of  this  particular  case, 
but,  alas  !  he  knew  it  to  be  only  too  true  in  many 
other  instances.  He  sat  down  patiently  to  ex- 
plain to  this  illiterate  skeptic  how  the  Bible  had 
been  given  to  man,  and  to  show  him,  if  possible, 
how  it  had  influenced  men,  directly  or  indi- 
rectly, ever  since  it  had  been  written;  and  he 
did  it  with  all  the  more  hopefulness  the  man 
had  no  unused  opportunities  to  look  back  on, 
as  have  so  many  of  the  educated  skeptics  and 
hypercritics  of  to-day. 

The  man,  although  he  listened  attentively, 
seemed  more  interested  in  the  "differ'nce,"  as 
he  called  it,  between  Reuben  and  the  other 
preachers  of  his  acquaintance  than  in  the  au- 
thenticity of  the  scriptures. 

"Well,  I  do  say!  You  beats  all!"  he  ex- 
claimed, surveying  Reuben  critically,  with  his 
head  on  one  side.  "You're  ther  fust  preacher 
ever  I  seed  that  took  time  ter  preach  o'  week 
days,  an'  that  ter  jest  two  or  three  folks !  An' 
you  in  jeans  jest  like  ther  rest  of  us,  too !" 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Friends  They  Left  Behin^d. 

WHILE  Eeiiben  and  Martliy  Helton  are 
settling  down  in  their  new  quarters  let 
US  go  back  awhile  to  look  np  our  friends  in  the 
Evergreen  neighborhood,  and  in  the  jail  at 
Boone. 

The  decision  of  the  Heltons  to  go  away  had 
produced  a  wonderful  amount  of  feeling  in  the 
hearts  of  the  people  among  whom  they  had  lab- 
ored so  faithfully;  but  the  very  power  that 
Heuben  had  gained  over  them  helped  to  recon- 
cile them,  at  least  in  a  measure,  to  the  move. 

^'Preacher  Helton  feels  called  to  go.  He 
never  did  feel  called  to  do  nothin'  wrong  since 
I've  knoAvd  him,''  said  'Squire  Farnham  to  the 
congregation  when  the  matter  was  first  brought 
before  them.  ^'He  has  taught  us  to  believe  that 
ther  bes'  way  ter  serve  God  is  to  obey  him,  an' 
I  reckon  we  aire  jest  as  much  called  on  ter  give 
him  up  es  he  is  ter  go."  The  'squire  passed  his 
hand  across  his  eves  where  there  was  a  sus- 
picious  film. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  177 

There  were  distinct  sobs  from  various  parts 
of  the  little  building. 

Mr.  Mooney  rose  to  his  feet  and  said,  "Well, 
I  don'  wanter  question  no  providentil  dealings, 
ther  all  wise,  but  I  do  say  thet,  ter  my  min', 
ther  man  thet  has  brimg  Evergreen  church  ter 
w'at  it  is  at  now,  w'y,  he's  ther  man  ter  stay 
thar!  That's  plumb  sure?"  he  added,  with  a 
violent  gesture  and  a  stamp  of  his  foot  that  car- 
ried conviction  to  some  at  least,  for  there  were 
cries  of  "That's  so!"  "Amen!"  "You  hit  it 
thar !"  and  other  expressive  remarks. 

"Squire  Farnham,  who  was  a  devoted  friend 
of  Eeuben's  and  a  most  sensible  man,  saw  that 
Mooney's  remarks  were  only  adding  fuel  to  the 
fire  of  discontent,  and  he  rose  to  his  feet  and  re- 
plied, "IsTow,  brother  Mooney,  you  jest  set  down 
an'  listen  to  me  a  minute.  An'  le'  me  call  your 
attention,  brethren  an'  sisters,  ter  two  things. 
Fust,  both  Preacher  Delton  an'  ther  Presbytery 
sees  differ'nt  from  you  'uns,  an'  we've  got  ter  be 
I'yal  ter  ther  powers  that  be  in  church  as  well 
as  State.  Second,  it  don't  faller  thet  Preacher 
Delton's  a-goin'  away  fur  good  an'  all.  Don't 
ye  'low  we  kin  afford  ter  be  gin'rous  ter  our 
neighbors  fur  a  while  ?  Ef  ther  wus  some  one 
mighty  bad  off  over  t'  your  house,  an'  I  wus 
jest  merely  po'ly,  you'd  think  powerful  strange 


178  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

of  me  ef  I  wouldn'  want  ther  doctor  to  'tend  ter 
YOU,  wouldn't  you  ?" 

The  old  man  said  all  this  with  a  persuasive 
tone  that  was  truly  eloquent,  and  the  effect  was 
jolainly  perceptible. 

Some  one  called  out,  ^^Well,  see  here,  'squire, 
we  'uns  caint  spare  our  doctor  too  long.  Wen's 
he  a-comin'  back  ?" 

"Oh!  I  don'  know,"  the  'squire  responded 
quickly ;  "that's  fur  ther  Lord  ter  decide.  Wat 
we've  got  ter  do  is  ter  go  ahead  an'  open  our 
hearts  ter  this  young  preacher  that's  comin',  an' 
ter  do  our  level  bes'  ter  uphol'  him  in  all  he 
does.  The  preacher  tole  us  that  that  'us  w'at  he 
was  a-goin'  ter  expect  of  us,  an'  we  don'  wanter 
disapp'int  him." 

The  last  remark  was  a  master  stroke  of  policy. 
The  women  especially  were  stimulated  by  the 
thought  that  Preacher  Delton  was  expecting 
good  things  of  them,  and  the  congregational 
meeting  broke  up  in  harmony,  and  with  the  peo- 
ple resolved  to  bear  the  burden  of  their  grief 
in  hope,  and  to  stand  by  the  new  preacher. 

It  had  been  known  shortlv  after  the  news  of 
the  Deltons  o^oins;  awav  had  o'otten  out  that  Dr. 
Thornlev  wanted  to  rent  the  mountain  manse, 
and  it  had  surprised  people,  but  only  for  a  little 
while,  for  just  the  week  before  the  Deltons  left 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  179 

the  doctor  had  called  at  the  gate  and  asked 
Reuben  if  he  and  Marthy  would  not  come  over 
to  'Squire  Farnham's  the  next  afternoon.  Some- 
thing in  the  expression  of  his  face  told  on  him, 
and  Reuben  broke  into  a  hearty  laugh,  exclaim- 
ing, ^^Why,  Thornley,  I  do  believe  that  you  are 
inviting  us  to  your  marriage  !"  Whereupon  the 
doctor,    blushing   and   laughing   himself,    said, 

"You  are  right,  Delton,  as  you  'most  always 
are.  I  tried  to  get  Linnie  to  tell  Mrs.  Delton 
Sunday,  but  she  was  as  bashful  as  I  am.  We 
got  engaged  the  day  after  Mandy  Snoggs'  fune- 
ral, and  did  not  expect  to  get  married  yet 
awhile,  but  neither  one  of  us  wanted  anybody 
but  you  to  marry  us,  and  so  we  are  hurrying 
things  up." 

"Well,  you  have  found  a  treasure,  and  ought 
to  thank  God  for  giving  you  the  love  of  such  a 
girl.  And,  my  friend,  the  best  expression  of 
your  gratitude  would  be  for  you  to  pledge  your- 
self henceforth  to  live  for  him,"  added  Reuben 
as  he  grasped  the  doctor's  hand  warmly. 

Dr.  Thornley  replied,  earnestly,  "You're 
right,  preacher,  I  made  up  my  mind  that  night 
that  T  spent  up  at  Handy' s  with  your  wife  and 
Linnie  that  there  was  just  one  way  to  be  a  true 
man  or  a  true  woman,  and  that  was  by  the  grace 


180  Reuben  Belton,  Preacher. 

of  God.  I  don't  doubt  but  what  that's  the  secret 
of  your  religion  and  tlieir's  too." 

And  so  before  Reuben  Delton  left  Wautauga 
he  had  the  happiness  of  receiving  Dr.  Thornley 
into  Evergreen  church,  and  of  marrying  him  to 
Linnie  Famham. 

And  as  if  all  that  could  be  done  to  soothe  the 
pain  of  their  leaving  was  done,  Dr.  Thornley,  as 
we  have  said,  rented  the  manse,  bought  Moo 
Moo,  the  pet  cow,  and  had  promised  to  take  the 
young    preacher,    who    was    coming    within    a 

month,  to  board. 

And  now  let  us  turn  to  Dan  Euger's  story 
since  the  day  he  had  been  locked  up  in  the 

Boone  jail. 

After  Keuben  Delton  said  good-bye  to  the 
poor  fellow,  and  he  heard  the  men  go  down  the 
long  passage,  and  then  down  stairs,  it  suddenly 
seemed  that  Ruger  realized  all  that  had  come 
upon  him,  and  all  that  was  before  him,  and  the 
old  Dan  Ptuger  seemed  to  wake  to  life  again. 
lie  sprang  to  the  door  and  strove  to  burst  it 
open ;  he  rushed  to  the  window  and  vainly 
strove  to  break  the  iron  bars. 

Foul  words  burst  forth ;  he  threw  himself  on 
the  dirty  floor  and  writhed  there  in  a  mortal 
struirde.  He  cursed  Reub  Delton,  and  then 
cursed  himself  for  surrendering.     The  thought 


Beuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  181 

of  being  caged  here  was  worse  than  the  thought 
of  death. 

Accustomed  as  he  had  been  for  years  to  the 
freedom  of  a  wild  life,  sleeping  most  of  the 
time  either  on  the  ground,  or  in  some  cave,  the 
narrow,  pent-up  cell  seemed  like  a  coffin. 

^^An'  I  don'  know  how  long  I've  got  ter  stan' 
it!  I'll  kill  myself,  that's  w'at!"  he  thought, 
and  thrust  his  hand  into  his  pocket  for  his  knife. 
Eolling  over  as  he  did  so,  his  eyes  rested  on  the 
Bible  that  Keuben  had  left  him. 

If  he  had  suddenlv  found  himself  confronted 
by  a  living  person,  he  could  not  have  been  more 
startled  or  impressed. 

^'0  God !"  he  cried,  ^^O  God !  have  mercy  on 
me.  I  cain't  stan'  this;  I'll  kill  myself  ef  you 
don'  help  me!  Ther's  somethin'  inside  o'  me 
that  feels  like  the  devil  had  me." 

He  got  up  from  the  floor  "all  of  a  tremble," 
as  he  expressed  it  when  telling  Reuben  about  it, 
and  taking  the  Bible,  he  held  it  pressed  against 
him,  as  if  there  was  some  power  in  the  very 
book  itself  to  ward  off  the  assault  of  the  devil. 
And  who  can  doubt  that  in  that  very  impression 
God  was  answering  his  prayer  for  help  ?  Certain 
it  was  that  he  quieted  down  in  a  little  while,  and 
opening  the  Bible  where  a  page  was  tiirned 
doAvn,  he  began  to  read.     The  verses  marked 


182  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

were  the  first  four  verses  of  tlie  fifty-first 
Psalm. 

He  sat  on  the  edge  of  his  cot  bed,  the  only 
seat  the  cell  afforded,  and  read  slowly,  in  the 
waning  afternoon  light,  the  words  that  have  been 
the  expression  of  penitent  hearts  for  so  many 
ages.  And  he  said  to  himself,  ^^He  never  knoAved 
nothin'  'bont  John  iii.  16  that  the  preacher  kep' 
a  tellin'  me  about;  but  he  jes'  comed  ter  God 
like  he  knowed  he  would  forgive  him,  an'  love 
him,  too." 

He  turned  his  leaves  slowly.  He  was  not 
familiar  with  it,  but  he  knew  that  Reuben  had 
surely  marked  that  place,  and  he  wanted  to  read 
it  again,  and  to  get  the  comfort  of  it.  He  re- 
membered what  Reuben  had  said  about  God's 
having  put  him  here,  so  that  he  would  have 
time  to  study  the  Bible  and  to  pray. 

The  thought  of  Reuben  Delton  from  that  time 
on  became  balm  for  the  poor  fellow's  spirit,  and 
he  thought  with  shame  and  almost  fear,  ^^Wat 
would  ther  preacher  have  thought  ef  he  could 
ha'  heard  all  I  wus  sayin'  awhile  ago !"  The 
tears  streamed  from  the  eves  so  unused  to  them, 
and  before  he  knew  it  he  was  on  his  knees. 

He  had  few  words  on  his  lips,  but,  as  he  told 
Reuben  when  he  made  his  last  visit  to  the  jail 
before  leaving,  "I  jest  staid  thar.     It  'peared 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  183 

like  I  felt  nearer  ter  God,  an'  that  he  wus  know- 
in'  w'at  I  wanted,  an'  how  I  felt  'thout  my  talk- 
in'.     Wus  I  right,  preacher  ?" 

"Yes,  you  surely  were  right,"  said  Reuben, 
deeply  touched  by  this  simple  and  graphic  de- 
scription of  true  prayer. 

That  farewell  visit  was  a  sorrowful  one  to 
Ruger,  for  it  seemed  to  him  that  it  would  be 
impossible  for  him  to  live  a  Christian  life  with- 
out Reuben's  friendship  and  help. 

"Ah,  Ruger !"  said  Delton,  when  the  poor 
fellow  expressed  his  fear  and  his  distress,  "it  is 
a  blessed  thing  to  know  that  you  have  a  better 
Hel2>er  than  ever  I  could  be,"  and  he  turned  to 
John  xiv.  and  read  Christ's  promise  concern- 
ing the  Holy  Spirit. 

"He  who  has  convinced  you  of  sin,  and  of  a 
judgment  to  come,  will  also  teach  you  how  to 
read  and  how  to  live.  But  I  will  write  to  you. 
I  do  not  mean  to  forget  you,  my  friend,  and  I 
shall  do  all  I  can  to  help  you.  I  have  already 
written  to  one  of  the  best  lawyers  in  this  dis- 
trict, and  will  also  write  to  the  governor.  But 
you  must  be  patient,  and  gentle  and  cheerful, 
and  keep  asking  for  grace  to  prove  that  you  are 
a  changed  man." 

"One  thing  I  want  to  ask  you,  Where  was  it 
that  you  shot  the  man  ?    Over  in  Tennessee  ?" 


184  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

"^o,  it  were  jest  this  side  o'  tlier  l^orth 
Calinv  line/'  replied  Riiger,  struggling  with  the 
emotion  that  Reuben's  thoughtful  kindness  had 
awakened. 

"That  makes  it  all  easier,  and  now  let  me 
read  you  a  few  verses  and  pray  with  you,  for  I 
must  be  going." 

linger  brushed  his  sleeve  across  his  eyes  and 
handed  his  Bible  to  Reuben. 

"Take  my  Bible,  preacher.  I  like  ter  have 
you  han'le  it ;   and  I  wisht  you'd  mark  some 


more." 


He  had  told  Reuben  of  the  terrible  conflict 
he  had  endured  the  first  afternoon  that  he  was 
in  jail. 

"Preacher,  you  never  had  ter  fight  ther  devil 
an'  verself ,  too,  that-a-wav,  did  you  ?  AVhv,  I 
jest  cussed  you,  and  cussed  myself,  too,  for 
givin'  up  ter  you  !" 

"Ah !  vou  don't  know  how  manv  fio^hts  I  have 
too.  But  there's  where  the  comfort  of  religion 
comes  in.  The  Bible  tells  us  we  are  to  fight  sin, 
but  it  tells  us  how,  and  that  God  is  on  our  side, 
and  so  we  are  -more  than  conquerors  through 
him  that  loved  us." 

After  he  had  prayed  with  him,  Reuben,  ris- 
ing to  go,  took  Ruger's  hand  and  said,  "]^^ow, 
Ruger,  when  your  heart  and  your  faith  fail  you. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  185 

pray!  Talk  to  God  just  as  you  would  talk  to 
me.  Study  your  Bible  if  you  want  to  know  how 
to  serye  God.  I  haye  marked  some  of  the  letters 
Paul  wrote  while  he  was  in  jail.  You  can  see 
what  God's  grace  did  for  him.  I  am  going  to 
send  you  some  books  to  read.  If  you  keep  your 
mind  busy,  you  can  stand  this  life  better.  Re- 
member  you  haye  pleased  God  by  confessing 
your  sins  and  giying  yourself  up,  and  that  will 
be  in  your  f  ayor  when  you  come  to  be  tried.  As 
soon  as  I  hear  that  your  case  is  coming  up  for 
trialj  please  God,  I  will  come  oyer  and  stand  by 
you." 

Ruger  tried  to  speak,  but  the  words  seemed  to 
choke  him.  He  could  only  place  his  other  hand 
oyer  Reuben's  for  a  moment,  then,  turning  his 
back,  as  he  heard  Simpson  coming,  he  leaned  his 
head  against  the  window  and  sobbed. 

Reuben  Delton  stopped  in  the  doorway  of  the 
jail  and  said,  "l^h\  Simpson,  you  know  I  am 
going  to  leaye  Wautauga  soon.  I  haye  a  fayor 
to  ask  of  you  before  I  go.  It  is  that  you  will 
treat  Dan  Ruger  kindly.  He  has  been  a  great 
sinner;  he  knows  it,  but  he  has  been  sayed  by 
a  great  Sayior,  and  I  belieye  that  under  God  he 
was  sayed  by  kind  words." 

In  a  few  sentences  Reuben  told  the  story  of 
Marthy's  first  meeting  with  Ruger,  then  of  the 


186  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

scene  at  tlie  spring,  wlien  little  Greyson  had 
softened  liis  heart  by  love. 

Simpson  had  begun  to  listen  with  something 
of  indifference,  if  not  of  scorn,  for  the  friendly 
interest  manifested  by  the  preacher  in  this  out- 
cast, but  as,  in  his  quiet,  forceful  way,  Keuben 
told  the  story  of  Kuger's  conversion,  the  man's 
head  drooped,  and  he  leaned  up  against  the  door 
post,  evidently  much  moved. 

Several  other  men  had  gathered  around  the 
steps  and  were  listening,  a  gaping  curiosity  quite 
in  contrast  to  the  feeling  shown  by  the  jailor. 

Simpson  looked  up  when  Eeuben  finished 
speaking,  and  said  in  a  tone  of  real  penitence, 
^'Preacher  Delton,  I  never  heard  nothin'  like 
that  before  in  my  life.  I  don't  wonder  you  feel 
like  vou  do  'bout  Dan  Euo-er.  I  own  I  didn' 
have  much  faith  in  him  nur  his  perfessions.  I 
b'lieved  he  wus  a  foolin'  you,  but  I  hain't  got 
nuthin'  furder  ter  say;  an'  I'm  plumb  'shamed 
of  not  treatin'  you  an'  him  no  better." 

He  shook  Delton's  hand  cordially,  and  the 
latter  o^ot  into  his  bui>:2;y  and  drove  off. 

There  had  never  been  seen  a  larger  crowd 
gathered  at  Evergreen  church  than  collected  on 
the  last  Sunday  that  Eeub  Delton  preached 
there. 

And  it  was  quite  a  curiously  mixed  crowd. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  187 

for,  in  addition  to  the  regular  attendants,  there 
were  many  mountain  people  lured  there  by  cu- 
riosity, and  also  quite  a  sprinkling  of  ^ ^summer 
boarders."  Among  others,  there  was  a  party  of 
gentlemen  who  had  been  fishing  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Yalle  Crucis  for  some  days. 

There  was  a  little  stir  in  the  large  congrega- 
tion when  Reuben  announced  his  text:  "For 
God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only 
begotten  Son  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him 
should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.'' 

Many  had  never  been  to  church  before. 
Reuben  had  tried  in  vain  to  induce  them  to 
come.  They  had  come  only  to  hear  the  story  of 
^^Dan  Ruger's  takin." 

And  there  were  strangers  there  who  he  would 
probably  never  see  again,  and  he  dared  not,  as 
he  had  told  Marthy  the  night  before — "he  dared 
not  let  the  opportunity  pass  to  preach  Christ 
and  him  crucified." 

There  was  something  of  quiet  dignity  and 
of  reverence  in  Reuben  Delton's  pulpit  man- 
ner, entirely  independent  of  broadcloth  and 
clerical  dress,  that  impressed  the  strangers  at 
once. 

The  key-note  of  his  sermon  was  that  wonder- 
ful "whosoever."  After  dwelling  on  who  it 
was  that  sent,  and  who  it  was  that  came,  and 


188  •  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

why,  lie  showed  the  contrast  between  the  broad- 
ness of  God's  invitations  and  the  limitations  of 
onrs. 

Then  suddenly  he  began  to  tell  the  story  of 
Dan  Rnger.  Told  of  his  white,  haggard  face  at 
Mandy  Snoggs'  window ;  told  of  the  swift  prayer 
of  Marthy,  and  of  the  first  kind  words  spoken 
to  him.  And  with  vivid  simplicity  told  of  the 
scene  at  the  spring,  their  singing,  the  stealthy 
approach  of  the  outlaw,  the  loving  baby  arms 
put  'round  his  neck ;  and  then  he  told  the  story 
of  their  meeting  on  the  mountain,  of  Ruger's 
confession  and  conversion,  and  of  his  voluntary 
surrender  of  his  arms  and  of  himself,  and  of  his 
taking  him  to  jail. 

There  was  a  Avonderful  eifectiveness  in  this 
simple  narrative  illustrating  God's  love  to  sin- 
ners. 

All  allusions  to  his  own  part  in  the  story 
were  made  briefly,  and  when  he  told  of  his 
prayer  with  the  outlaw,  the  intense  stillness  was 
broken  by  sobs,  and  there  were  tears  on  many 
faces. 

"Dear  friends,"  said  Reuben,  with  his  arms 
outstretched  in  that  tender  winning  way  that 
was  especially  attractive  in  him,  "that  same  love 
is  for  you  !  That  whosoever  means  you  !  It  was 
love  that  won  Dan  Ruger,  and  Dan  Ruger  in 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  189 

jail  to-day  is  a  free  man  for  tlie  first  time  in  his 
life,  and  the  truth  hath  made  him  free.'' 

The  simple  services  closed  with  a  hymn,  which 
Reuben  announced  as  ^^the  h}Tiin  Euger  is  so 
fond  of." 

"  I  am  so  glad  that  my  Father  in  heaven." 

After  a  recess  for  dinner  Reuben  Delton 
preached  his  farewell  sermon  from  2  Corin- 
thians xiii.  11. 

'Squire  Farnham  said  after  it  was  over,  "Ef 
you  never  had  known  Preacher  Delton  before, 
you'd  ha'  known  w'at  manner  of  man  he  wus 
from  that  sermon.  I  hadn'  but  one  fault  to  fin' 
with  it.  I  never  did  love  ter  do  my  weepin'  in 
public,  but  I  jest  cried  to-day  along  with  the 
women  folks !" 

Wesley  Conway,  the  young  man  who  was  to 
follow  Reuben  Delton  as  pastor  of  Evergreen 
church,  was  a  mountaineer  too,  though  from  an- 
other State.  And  he  w^as  also  a  classmate  of 
Reuben's  at  the  Seminary,  and  spent  a  part  of 
a  summer  with  him  in  evangelistic  work,  so 
that  he  was  not  an  entire  stranger  to  the  people. 

And  now,  with  this  peep  at  the  friends  the 
Delton's  had  left  behind  them,  let  us  return  to 
Meason's  Cross  Roads  and  see  what  had  become 
of  them. 


CHAPTEK  III. 


-, " 


"  'Tis  home  where're  the  heart  is. 

IT  was  now  the  second  week  of  October.  The 
weather  was  lovelv,  bnt  the  air  was  siiffi- 
cientlj  frosty  to  remind  Keiiben  that  he  had  no 
time  to  lose  in  bnilding. 

He  had  found  a  place  about  a  mile  beyond 
Mineville  that  seemed  just  the  situation  he 
wanted.  It  was  a  small  farm  Iving  in  the  nar- 
row  but  fertile  valley  of  Peach  Creek,  not  far 
from  the  ford  where  the  roads  forked  for  Upper 
Peach  Cove  and  Cherry  Cove. 

After  much  dillv-dallYino*  and  reflection  the 
old  man  who  owned  the  land  consented  to  sell  a 
small  tract,  but  he  was  evidently  very  cautious, 
fearing  that  this  preacher,  like  some  others  he 
had  met,  would  get  the  better  of  him  in  the  bar- 
gain. 

Something,  however,  in  Delton's  face  and 
manner  gave  him  confidence,  and  the  purchase 
was  made. 

It  was  no  sooner  knovm.  that  the  new  preacher 
had  bought  a  farm  than  the  neighbors  at  once 
gathered  about  Reub  and  manifested  their  in- 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  191 

terest.  With  some,  of  course,  it  was  idle  curi- 
osity— ^^tliere's  much  of  a  muchness"  in  human 
nature — but  there  were  many  who  came  from 
honest,  neighborly  interest ;  and  Reuben  ac- 
cepted all  the  help  offered,  not  only  because  he 
was  so  anxious  to  get  through  before  cold 
weather  set  in,  but  because  he  had  learned  the 
art  of  winning  people  by  accepting  kindnesses, 
as  well  as  bv  doino;  them. 

Then,  too,  he  wanted  to  show  these  people 
that  he  was  an  industrious  man,  and  to  afford 
them  an  object  lesson  of  what  he  hoped  to  teach 
them. 

He  had  abundant  help  every  day  in  cutting 
out  and  clearing  up  what  ground  was  needed  for 
the  house-lot  and  barn-yard. 

I^othing  like  his  energy  had  been  seen  in  this 
neighborhood  before.  He  had  not  been  among 
these  people  two  weeks,  and  yet  he  had  bought 
his  land,  had  made  the  contract  for  the  lumber 
for  his  house,  and  was  at  work  with  from  five 
to  eight  men  clearing  off  the  ground. 

It  was  no  little  trial  to  Marthy  that  at  first 
they  had  to  stay  at  iVIeason's,  but  she  was  not 
only  well  supplied  with  common  sense,  but  it 
was  consecrated  common  sense. 

^^I  have  to  stay  here  because  there  isn't  any- 
where else  that  we  can  stay  even  as  comfortably 


192  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

as  here  until  the  house  is  built ;  and  maybe  the 
Lord  has  something  for  me  to  do  for  these  peo- 
ple that  I  must  do  right  now."  And  so  she  saw 
Eeuben  ride  off  day  by  day  with  a  brave  heart 
and  cheerful  face. 

She  spent  her  first  morning  there  at  her  wash 
tub  at  the  spring,  much  to  the  astonishment  of 
Mrs.  Meason,  who  could  not  understand  any 
one  bothering  herself  with  work  who  had  so 
good  an  excuse  as  Mar  thy  had  just  then. 

Marthv  had  taken  out  her  o^m  tubs  from  the 
wagon  and  a  jar  of  soft  soap. 

One  of  the  girls  had  led  the  way  to  the  spring, 
a  few  hundred  vards  in  the  rear  of  the  house. 
As  Marthv  set  down  her  tubs  she  said,  ^^Are  vou 
going  to  wash,  too?''  She  asked  this  more  be- 
cause of  the  pressing  need  she  had  discovered 
than  from  any  indications  of  such  a  j)urpose  on 
the  part  of  Liny  Meason. 

"Well,  no;  I  cain't  say  as  I  ^^^,ls.  We-uns 
run  out  o'  soap  awhile  back,  an'  we  hain't  never 
thought  ter  make  up  no  mo." 

"Oh  !  well ;  I'll  let  vou  have  some  of  mine.  I 
have  a  whole  jar  full,"  said  Marthy,  eager  to 
get  the  girl's  energy  stirred. 

"Well,  I  could  wash  some,  an'  I  'low  it 
wouldn'  hurt  nobody,  but  we-uns  does  things 
mighty  slow."    Then  she  added  slowly,  as  if  re- 


Beuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  193 

fleeting  on  the  possibility,  "I  reckon  I  kin  git  a 
tub  ef  par  hain't  tuck  'em  all  off  ter  ther  cider 
press." 

She  turned  away,  moving  with  a  little  more 
vim  than  ordinary  under  the  influence  of  a  new 
impulse,  and  left  Marthy  inwardly  resolving 
that  she  would  not  drink  cider  while  she  was  at 
the  Mea sons' ! 

Liny  brought  the  tub  in  a  little  while,  and 
Marthv  had  the  satisfaction  that  evening  of 
knowing  that  there  were  more  clean,  clothes  in 
the  house  than  had  been  there  for  many  a  day ! 

This  young  girl  was  the  brightest  of  the 
Meason  family.  She  w^as  about  sixteen  years 
old,  and  had  never  been  to  school  but  a  part  of  a 
year,  the  excuse  being  that  she  couldn't  be  spared 
^^fur  goin'  en  comin',  w'ich  tuck  her  nigh  the 
whol'  day.  An',  arter  all,  w'at  good  were  it  ?" 
added  Mrs.  Meason  in  a  lazy  tone. 

Long  afterwards,  when  Liny  was  redeemed 
from  unbelief  and  ignorance,  she  said  to  Marthy, 
^^Miss  Delton,  when  I  come  back  ter  ther  spring 
that  fust  mornin'  you  staid  to  our  house  an' 
heerd  you  a  singin'  over  your  wash  tub  so  happy 
like  an'  differ'nt  from  us,  I  jest  said  I'm  a-goin' 
ter  be  es  much  like  her  as  I  kin',  an'  ef  it's  re- 
ligion w'at  does  it,  well,  then  that's  w'at  I  want." 

During  the  beautiful  last  days  of  October, 


194  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

and  the  early  days  of  ISTovember,  while  Reuben 
was  bnsy  clearing  off  his  land  preparatory  to 
building,  he  decided,  to  Marthy's  great  delight, 
that  they  might  camp  out  while  the  weather  per- 
mitted on  the  other  side  of  Mineville,  and  about 
a  mile  from  where  he  was  building. 

It  was  so  much  more  convenient  to  his  work, 
and  he  wanted  Marthy's  sus^orestions,  and,  too, 
he  thought  that  she  might  become  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  women  of  the  yillage,  and 
begin  the  work  of  uplifting  them. 

The  superintendent  of  the  mines  had  kindly 
offered  to  lend  them  a  tent,  and  Mar  thy  sug- 
gested that  if  it  should  be  damp,  they  could 
sleep  in  the  wagon  at  night. 

And  so  reluctantly  the  Measons  saw  them  go 
oif;  Liny  especially  manifesting  her  distress. 
She  had  had  a  glimpse  into  another  world, 
where,  as  she  expressed  it,  "they  wus  like  we- 
uns,  an'  wusn't  neither.'' 

"Preacher,"  said  Marthy,  as  they  drove  off 
from  Measons,  "there's  something  in  that  girl 
that  makes  me  think  of  a  wild  bird  fastened  in 
a  cage  and  struggling  to  be  free,  and  I  hope  we 
will  be  permitted  to  set  her  free." 

In  spite  of  all  sorts  of  discomforts  and  funny 
accidents,  they  were  a  happy  little  family  during 
the  bright  days  spent  in  camp.     Hearty  and 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  195 

happy-hearted,  used  to  roughing,  and  perfectly 
willing  to  "put  up  with  things/'  they  really  en- 
joyed the  life. 

The  people  of  the  village  were  curious,  and 
even  prying  sometimes,  but  the  Deltons  bore 
all  with  a  courage  and  patience  born  of  their  in- 
tense love  for  the  souls  of  these  people. 

Before  they  had  been  a  week  in  camp  at  the 
ford  Marthy  invited  all  those  who  would  help 
her  start  a  Mothers'  Meeting  to  come  out  to  the 
camp  at  three  o'clock  one  afternoon.  She  made 
some  tea  cakes  and  had  a  pot  of  coffee  ready,  and 
waited  with  a  prayer  in  her  heart  for  success  in 
this  beginning  of  her  work. 

Among  those  who  accepted  Marthy's  invita- 
tion was  a  young  woman,  apparently  about 
twentv  vears  old,  who  was  a  2:ood  deal  more 

1/1/  /  o 

dressed  than  the  others,  and  who  carried  herself 
in  a  way  that  indicated  her  conscious  superi- 
ority to  them. 

Sbe  was  a  handsome  woman,  with  really  beau- 
tiful dark  auburn  hair  and  fine  brown  eyes,  and 
had  a  much  better  figure  than  the  average 
woman  of  the  class  to  which  she  seemed  to  be- 
long. Her  dress  was  extremely  gaudy.  She 
wore  a  soiled,  draggled  lawn  skirt,  with  flowers 
of  a  large  pattern  in  gay  colors ;  a  shirt  waist 
made  of  solid  yellow  cheese  cloth,  and  a  hat 


woman. 


196  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

quite  gay  with  red  roses  and  cro^^Tied  with  a 
large  bow  of  yellow  ribbon. 

The  other  women — there  were  nine  alto- 
gether— were  most  of  them  in  plain  dark  dresses 
and  snnbonnets,  or  broad  straw  hats,  which 
made  the  contrast  very  striking. 

As  Mar  thy  passed  from  one  to  another  shak- 
ing hands  and  asking  for  names  in  her  winsome 
way,  she  approached  the  handsome  young 
nan. 

And  yours  ?"  she  asked,  as  she  held  her  hand 
out. 

"Baxter's  my  name — Miss  Tim  Baxter" — 
w^as  the  reply,  with  a  broad  smile  and  a  toss  of 
the  head. 

Marthy  made  a  mental  resolution  to  per- 
suade jMrs.  Tim  Baxter  that  quieter  costumes 
were  more  fashionable  and  in  better  taste  than 
hers. 

There  were  several  children,  two  or  three  of 
them  being  babies,  so  that  the  scene  was  not 
lacking  in  animation,  despite  the  silence  of  the 
guests  at  first. 

Beuben  had  bought  some  chairs  the  day  be- 
fore, and  these,  with  the  two  they  had  in  the 
wagon  and  a  box  turned  oyer,  seated  the  audi- 
ence under  the  beautiful  birch  tree  that  Marthy 
called  her  parlor. 


Reuben  DeUon,  Preacher,  197 

She  had  a  table  bv  her,  which  had  been  an- 
other  of  their  purchases  of  the  day  before,  and 
on  it  was  a  dainty  white  cloth.  Her  Bible  lay 
on  it,  and  a  hymn  book,  and  beside  them  was  a 
pitcher  filled  with  wild  flowers. 

It  was  a  lovely  afternoon.  The  warm  sun- 
light left  its  mellow  glow  on  everything.  The 
river  rippled  by  peacefully  over  the  pretty  red- 
brown  pebbles  and  eddied  around  the  large 
lichened  rocks  nearer  the  banks.  The  soft  white 
clouds  floated  above  all,  as  God's  blessings  hang 
above  us,  thoua'ht  Martbv. 

As  she  looked  about  her  on  the  stolid  faces 
there  was  a  conflict  in  her  heart  between  pity 
and  despair.  Every  woman  was  provided  with 
a  snuff-brush,  and  the  tin  snuff-boxes  were  be- 
ing passed  around  apparently  by  way  of  refresh- 
ments ! 

^'I  must  do  something  to  get  that  blank,  ani- 
mal look  out  of  these  faces,''  thought  Marthy, 
^'but  how  can  it  be  done  ?"  sua'ffested  some  evil 
spirit  that  seemed  haunting  her.  The  promise 
came  quickly  to  mind :  ^'My  grace  is  sufficient 
for  thee !" 

Those  thoughts  flashed  upon  her  in  the  first 
moment  or  two  that  she  stood  up.  In  another 
she  was  explaining  quite  pleasantly  what  a 
Mothers'  Meeting  was,  and  telling  them  of  the 


198  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

meetings  over  in  Waiitauga,  and  of  all  the  good 
and  the  pleasure  that  had  come  of  them. 

"ISTow  let  lis  ask  God  to  bless  these  meetings, 
because  nnless  he  does  thej  will  do  ns  no  good. 
Let  us  praj,"  she  said,  reverently,  and  to  the  as- 
tonishment of  the  company,  she  knelt  down. 
Two  or  three  followed  her  example,  Mrs.  Tim 
Baxter,  among  others,  thongh  she  seemed  to  re- 
gard it  as  very  entertaining,  as  she  snickered 
and  whispered  most  of  the  time.  Marthy's 
prayer,  simple  enough  for  a  child  to  understand, 
was  only  a  cry  for  help  to  live  as  wives  and 
mothers  should,  and  to  be  able  to  make  home 
happy  for  husbands  and  children.  Before  she 
had  finished,  the  silly  smile  had  faded  from  Mrs. 
Baxter's  face,  and  she  said  afterwards  to  some 
one,  ^^Miss  Delton  makes  me  feel  cur'ons.  I 
never  had  no  preacher  to  make  me  feel  that-a- 
way." 

After  singing  a  familiar  hymn  in  which  two 
or  three  joined  her  in  feeble,  cracked  voices, 
Marthv  read  a  few  verses  from  the  Bible,  ex- 
jDlaining  them  as  she  read.  Then  she  did  a  very 
wise  thing.  She  told  them  something  of  her  own 
story.  How  Miss  Greyson  had  helped  her,  and 
how  she  felt  that  she  must  help  others  to  show 
her  gratitude. 

^^That  is  what  has  brought  my  husband  and 


Reuben  DeltoUj  Preacher.  199 

me  here,  ^ot  just  for  him  to  preach  to  you 
all  Sundays,  but  for  both  of  us  to  try  to  help 
you  to  come  to  God,  and  to  live  better  and  hap- 
pier lives  every  way." 

"And  now/'  she  said,  smiling,  "I  want  you  all 
to  eat  with  me.  People  never  get  real  friendly 
until  they  eat  together.  I  will  make  some  coffee 
now,"  she  added  as  she  went  over  to  where  she 
had  built  a  fire.  Her  kettle  was  already  on,  and 
in  a  few  moments  she  had  the  coffee  made. 
Marthy  brought  from  the  tent  her  dishes  of  tea 
cakes,  and  the  cups  and  saucers,  and  sugar  and 
cream. 

The  faces  of  her  guests  wore  an  expression 
that  indicated  both  pleasure  and  surprise.  This 
was  not  like  anvthino-  thev  had  ever  seen  or 
imagined  before ! 

This  first  Mothers'  lleeting  was  a  complete 
success.  As  one  and  another  gathered  courage 
to  speak,  their  comments  not  only  amused  but 
gratified  Marthy. 

"Well,  Miss  Delton,  this  is  j^li^mb  fine!  We 
never  had  no  sich  a  woman  in  our  parts  befo! 
You're  as  good  as  a  preacher,  an'  yit  ye  kin 
cook  fine,  too !" 

"How' dye  make  these  yer  ?  I  hain't  never 
put  nothin'  like  this  inter  my  mouth  befo',  sar- 
tain !" 


200  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

"Well !  well !  she's  got  pvo  (pure)  sugah  in 
her  coffee,  an'  it's  cler  as  water !    Well !" 

"It's  better'n'  a  circns,"  remarked  Mrs.  Bax- 
ter in  a  tone  that  made  IMarthy  wonder  if  she 
was  in  earnest  or  trying  to  ridicule  things. 

Such  were  some  of  the  comments,  and 
Ifarthy,  seizing  a  quiet  minute,  said,  "l^ow,  I 
would  like  to  have  another  meeting  two  weeks 
from  to-daj,  but  I  want  somebody  else  to  give 
us  an  invitation.  Over  in  Wautauga  we  met 
at  a  different  house  every  time.  Our  house  will 
not  be  finished  for  a  month,  I  reckon." 

There  was  silence  for  a  while,  then,  after 
some  whispering,  one  woman  said,  "Well,  I 
'low  we  kin  have  it  at  our  house,  but  I  don' 
know  how  to  begin." 

"Oh !  never  mind  about  that,"  answered 
Marthv,  auicklv.  "I'll  do  all  that,  and  if  each 
one  will  furnish  a  cup  and  saucer  and  spoon, 
and  each  one  bring  a  cup  of  flour,  and  some- 
body'll  furnish  the  lard,  and  somebody  else  sorg- 
hum, I'll  teach  you  how  to  make  tea  cakes  my 


wav !" 


"Well !  well !"  was  the  general  exclamation, 
in  tones  of  evident  satisfaction.  Then,  as 
Marthv  had  learned  by  experience  was  neces- 
sary, she  said,  "E^ow  I  guess  we  had  better 
break  up.     We  don't  want  the  men  folks  to  fuss 


Reuhen  Delton,  Preaclier.  201 

about  our  not  being  at  home  to  get  snpper  in 
time.'' 

With   hearty   handshakings    Marthj's   first 
^[others'  fleeting  in  Peach  Creek  valley  closed. 

The  size  of  Renben  Delton's  house  was  a  mat- 
ter of  mnch  comment  to  some  of  his  friends. 

^'Yon-nns  inns'  'low  ter  take  summer  board- 
ers, preacher,"  said  one  man  when  he  found 
that  tliere  were  to  be  four  rooms  beside  the  din- 
ins;  room  and  kitchen. 

"Why,  no,  that's  not  the  reason.  You  see, 
we  don't  believe  it  is  good  for  people  to  live  so 
crowded.  You  can't  keep  healthy  and  clean 
when  you  do.  Then,  we  like  to  have  a  spare 
room,  where  we  can  ask  ]:>eople  to  sit  when  they 
come  to  see  us,  and  Avliere  I  can  get  away  from 
the  noise  my  boy  makes  when  I'm  getting  ready 
to  preach.  We  would  rather  not  eat  in  our 
kitchen  if  we  can  help  it,  so  you  see  I  have  just 
a  little  room  to  cook  in,  and  we  will  eat  in  this 
room,"  pointing  to  where  the  dining  room  was 
going  to  be.  '^'Xow,  tlie  next  one  of  you  that's 
goins:  to  build,  trv  it  for  vourself.  Lumber  is 
plentiful  and  cheap,  and  I'll  help  any  of  you. 
You'll  see  that  it  makes  a  man  feel  better  to  have 
a  clean,  comfortable,  roomy  house." 

"Yer  goin'  ter  be  mighty  fine  w'en  ye  git  yer 
glass  mnders,  too." 


202  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

^'Well,  not  so  fine  as  so  comfortable,  for  when 
the  dark  days  come  in  winter,  yon  can't  see  in- 
doors nnless  yoii  have  good  light." 

^^Wa-al,  bnt  ther  ain't  nothin'  ter  see  fur," 
drawled  one  man  not  over  twenty-five  years  of 
age. 

"Nothing  to  see  for !  Why,  man,  the  win- 
ter's the  time  for  yon  and  me  to  try  to  read  and 
know  something  ahont  what's  going  on  in  the 
world.     Yon  can  read,  can't  yon  ?" 

"Ya-as,  I  kin  make  ont  ter  read  some,  bnt 
ther  ain't  nothin'  fnr  me  ter  read.  I  hain't  got 
money  ter  spen'  on  books." 

'^You've  got  it  to  buy  tobacco  and  poor  whis- 
key. Save  some  of  that.  And,  let  me  tell  you, 
I've  got  some  books  that  a  good  woman  gave  to 
me  to  lend  to  people  who  couldn't  afford  to  buy 
'em.  When  the  bad  weather  sets  in,  come  to  me 
and  I  will  always  give  you  something  to  read." 

When  the  time  came  for  Reuben's  first  reg- 
ular Sunday  preaching  service,  the  weather  was 
so  fine  that  he  decided  to  have  preaching  out  of 
doors. 

There  was  no  church  building  within  five 
miles,  and  the  school  house  in  Mineville  was  not 
onl}^  much  out  of  repair,  but  entirely  too  small 
for  the  crowd  that  he  hoped  would  attend. 

Both  Marthy  and  Reuben  realized  the  im- 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  203 

portance  of  that  first  regular  service.  They 
knew,  not  only  from  what  they  had  heard  since 
thev  came,  but  from  what  thev  had  knowm  else- 
where,  of  the  kind  of  preachers  and  preaching 
these  people  had  been  nsed  to,  therefore  they 
spent  much  time  in  prayer,  asking  that  Reuben 
might  be  directed  as  to  what  to  preach  about, 
and  even  that  the  right  words  might  be  given 
him. 

He  had  had  some  of  the  neighbors  to  help 
him  with  several  loads  of  lumber  with  which 
they  arranged  seats  in  a  fine  grove  just  on  the 
edge  of  the  village.  These  rude  benches  and 
the  chairs  brought  by  the  village  people  fur- 
nished seats  for  a  good-sized  crowd. 

The  people  began  to  gather  by  nine  o'clock, 
and  for  an  hour  or  more  they  continued  to  ar- 
rive. There  were  many  more  than  Reuben  had 
expected,  and  some  of  them  were  pretty  wild- 
looking  fellows,  and  several  appeared  to  be  un- 
der the  infiuence  of  drink. 

Just  before  time  for  the  services  to  begin 
Superintendent  Laxley  beckoned  to  Reuben, 
and  when  he  came  dowm  from  the  stand,  said  in 
a  whisper,  ^^Mr.  Delton,  some  of  these  fellows 
are  from  away  up  in  Peach  Cove,  and  are  pretty 
rough  cases.  Did  you  leave  anything  out  at 
your  camp  that  they  could  carry  off  or  injure  V^ 


204  Beiihen  Delton,  Preacher. 

Reuben  smiled.  ^^Wliv,  captain,  I  had  to 
leave  a  2:aod  many  tiling's  in  tlie  wa2:on,  bnt 
they  were  mostly  packed  np ;  and  I  have  left 
them  in  God's  care.  I  am  in  his  seryice,  and 
he  has  covenanted  to  keep  me  and  mine." 

Captain  Laxley's  face  flushed,  and  he  said 
with  a  gleam  of  scorn  in  his  bright  blue  eyes, 
^^All  riaht,  if  you  are  satisfied.  I  was  fi^oing  to 
offer  to  send  two  of  my  men  over  to  guard  your 
things.  I  am  like  Cromwell :  I  believe  in  trust- 
ing  in  God  and  keeping  the  powder  dry — es- 
pecially in  keeping  the  powder  dry."  He  turned 
awav  as  he  said  this,  and  Reuben  returned  to 
the  rude  platform  he  had  fixed  for  the  services. 

After  singing,  which  llarthv  led,  and  a  short 
prayer  Reuben  told  the  people  why  he  had  come, 
and  what  he  hoped  to  do  here;  and  then  after 
reading  and  expounding  the  Scripture,  he  took 
for  his  text  the  words :  Jesus  Christ  came  into 
the  world  to  save  sinners. 

If  he  had  been  speaking  only  to  little  chil- 
dren, he  could  not  have  told  more  simply  the 
story  of  God's  love  or  of  Christ's  death  on  the 
cross.  He  judged  rightly  that  there  were  some 
here  on  whose  ears  the  story  fell  for  the  first 
time,  and  many  who  had  never  heard  the  gosjDcl 
really  preached  before. 

We  are  all  familiar  with  the  stories  of  the 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  205 

ignorant  preachers  who  are  to  be  found  among 
the  negroes  of  the  South,  and  too  often  are  made 
to  laugh  at  rather  than  pity  their  ignorance ; 
but  few  understand  how  many  so-called  preach- 
ers scattered  far  and  wide  through  the  moun- 
tain country  are  no  better.  Men  of  immoral 
lives,  many  of  them  content  to  live  without 
Bibles  in  their  homes,  it  cannot  be  surprising 
that  they  so  often  fail  to  win  the  confidence  of 
the  people,  or  to  bring  souls  to  Christ.  For,  no 
matter  how  wicked  a  man  may  be  himself,  he 
expects  the  life  of  the  man  who  preaches  to  him 
to  be  correct,  and  to  add  its  testimony  to  the  re- 
ligion he  preaches. 

There  was  some  disturbance  on  the  edge  of 
the  crowd  ^^^lile  Reuben  was  speaking.  He 
stopped  a  moment;  then  he  called  out,  "My 
friends,  there  is  just  one  thing  that  I  cannot 
do;  that  is,  preach  while  people  are  laughing 
and  talking.  You  need  not  come  to  hear  me 
preach ;  but  if  you  do,  you  must  keep  quiet. 
This  is  God's  work  I  am  doing.  Other  people 
are  trying  to  listen.  You  can  go  away  now  if 
you  want  to."  He  stopped  speaking,  and,  much 
to  his  relief,  the  men  who  had  been  noisy  left, 
and  the  service  proceeded  quietly. 

The  second  service  after  dinner  was  chiefly 
a  song  service,  and  the  younger  people  seemed 


206  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

especially  to  enjov  it,  and  one  after  another  voice 
joined  in  with  Eeuben  and  Martliy.  After  an- 
nouncing that  there  would  be  preaching  at  this 
place  the  next  Sunday,  if  the  weather  permitted, 
the  services  closed. 

On  their  way  home  Marthy  and  Reuben  were 
ioined  bv  several  men  from  the  other  side  of 
Peach  Creek.  Thev  had  e'one  onlv  a  short  dis- 
tance  from  Mineville  when  Keuben  was  accosted 
bv  a  drunken  stranger. 

^^So  you  are  a  preacher,  are  you  ?  I  thought 
vou  was,  or  a  doctor,  bv  vour  dress.  One  is  as 
bad  as  th'other ;  both  deserve  torment.  You're 
both  workin'  for  monev.'' 

"Yes,  stranger,  that  is  true,"  replied  Reuben. 
"I  am  a  preacher,  and  preach  for  money.  My 
denomination  is  not  very  large  in  this  State, 
but  we  have  preached  for  money  enough  to  es- 
tablish a  home  to  care  for  the  children  of  such 
as  you — drunken  parents  who  neglect  their  fam- 
ilies. Have  you  any  child  you  want  to  give  to 
us  V  * 

"Thar,  now,  preacher.  YouVe  salted  him 
sure!  He  ain't  srot  nothin'  further  to  sav  to 
you  just  now !"  exclaimed  Reuben's  compan- 
ions. 

*  True  incident. 


u 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  207 

The  man  rode  past  tliem,  then  wheeling  his 
mnle  about,  turned  back  to  town. 

Reuben  had  won  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  the  farmers  who  had  heard  his  sharp  and  just 
retortj  and  in  the  years  of  his  ministry  in  Peach 
Creek  Yallev  found  no  warmer  friends  than 
the  Little  Peach  Creek  people. 

As  they  parted  at  the  ford  one  of  them  said, 
'^Come  up  and  see  us,  preacher,  and  bring  yer 
wife  an'  boy.  We-uns  lives  po',  but  ther  door's 
always  a  swingin'  fur  sich  as  you-uns.  I  wisht 
my  woman  had  ha'  come  ter  preachin'.  AVe-uns 
ain't  used  ter  hear  in'  sich  preachin',  nur  sich 
sinffin'  neither." 

"Thank  you  !"  said  both  Peuben  and  Marthy. 
"We  will  come;  how  far  do  you  live  beyond 
here  ?" 

"Wy,  jest  a  little  piece  up  yer  in  ther  fork  of 
Little  Peach  Creek;  nigh  outer  two  miles  er 
thar  about.     Cain't  vou-uns  come  to-morrow?" 

"I'm  sorry,  but  I  don't  see  how  we  can.  You 
see,  I'm  building  and  want  to  get  done  before 
cold  weather  sets  in,  but  you  may  look  for  us 
sure.  And  you  come  to  see  us.  God  willing, 
we'll  be  in  our  house  bv  the  end  of  next  week, 
and  then  we  want  to  see  all  our  friends.  Good- 
bye, and  God  bless  you  !" 

The  men  crossed  the  ford  just  in  sight  of  the 


208  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

camp,  and  as  tliey  rode  along  tliey  talked  of 
Renben  and  of  the  preaching  and  the  singing. 

"Well,"  said  the  older  one,  "we-uns  hain't 
never  had  no  sich  preachin'  in  these  parts  be- 
fo' !  That  ere  feller's  jes'  plumb  grand.  He's 
differ'nt,  that's  it !" 

"Well,  thar  you're  ria'ht  now.  You  hit  ther 
nail  plumb  on  ther  head  then,  Mac,  sartain ! 
Ef  a  man  ain't  differ'nt  hisself,  an'  a-lookin' 
like  he  knowd  what  he  were  a-talkin'  'bout,  hit 
ain't  no  use  fur  him  ter  git  up  an'  tell  folks 
how  they  oughter  live.  Hopper,  he  says  as  how 
Delton's  jes'  tunned  in  an'  been  a-workin'  like 
a  boss  cleanin'  up  an'  a  raisin'  his  house." 

They  -rode  on,  talking,  perhaps,  less  of  Reu- 
ben's sermon  than  he  could  have  wished,  but 
they  had  a  new  proof  of  the  power  of  upright 
living — an  object  lesson  much  needed  in  that 
reo-ion. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Some  Sad  Sights. 

"  A  man  he  seems  of  cheerful  yesterdays, 
And  bright  to-morrows." 

THERE  is  no  characteristic  that  so  qualifies 
a  man  or  a  woman  for  the  work  of  the 
Home  Mission  field — always,  of  course,  ex- 
cepting a  constraining  love  for  the  Master — as 
a  spirit  of  dauntless  cheerfulness. 

This  trait  both  Reuben  and  Marthy  Delton 
possessed  in  a  very  marked  degree.  And  well 
it  was  for  them  that  they  did. 

When  the  severe  winter  weather  set  in,  as  it 
did  about  the  last  of  xs'ovember,  they  were  in 
their  new  home.  And  very  thankful  they  were 
to  be  able  to  say  so,  though  there  was  yet  work 
to  be  done  on  the  interior ;  their  bed  rooms  and 
kitchen,  or  stove  room,  were  finished. 

Used  as  they  had  been  to  living  on  the  turn- 
pike for  the  four  years  of  their  married  life, 
this  seemed  a  very  lonely  place.  It  w^as  on  the 
road  leading  to  Upper  Peach  Creek  Cove,  but 
few  people  travelled  that  road  in  winter.  It 
was  almost  in  sight  of  Peach  Creek  Eord,  where 


210  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

the  trees  were  bare,  but  even  that  road  was  com- 
paratively little  travelled. 

Thev  had  had  company  enough  while  the 
honse  was  in  process  of  bnilding,  and  for  a  while 
after  thev  moved  in.  Both  men  and  women  had 
come  to  inspect  the  home,  and  thev  did  so  tlior- 
onffhlv. 

Marthy  had  more  than  once  fonnd  men  at 
her  cupboard  or  stove  in  the  kitchen  when  she 
came  in  from  the  spring,  but  it  proved  that  they 
were  there  for  no  more  harmful  purpose  than 
"Jest  a  lookin'  at  all  vou-uns  is  ffot." 

But  when  the  rainy  sj^ell  began  and  days 
passed  without  any  visitors,  Marthy  was  glad 
to  be  verv  busv. 

The  first  day  that  he  could  spare  after  they 
were  reallv  settled  in  the  manse,  Reuben  had 
gone  to  Upper  Peach  Cove ;  and  he  had  gone  un- 
der protest  from  the  better  class  of  people  in 
Mineville. 

When  Captain  Laxley  had  heard  that  he  was 
going  he  said,  "He'd  better  make  his  will,  and 
take  his  gun  along,  too,"  but  Reuben  only  smiled 
and  said  to  him,  "I  never  carry  a  gun  for  pro- 
tection, captain.     I  dare  not.'' 

When  he  did  start  off  he  looked  much  more 
like  a  mountain  hunter  than  a  preacher,  so  far 
as  costume  was  concerned,  for  his  heavy  cloth- 


Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  211 

ing  was  of  home-made  jeans.  He  wore  his  stout 
boots  outside  liis  trousers,  and  his  wool  cap  and 
his  muffler  were  both  Marthy's  work. 

When  he  reached  home  in  the  afternoon 
Marthy,  who  welcomed  him  at  the  door,  missed 
his  merry  whistle,  and  was  struck  with  the  look 
of  sadness  that  was  not  dispelled  even  by  the 
smile  with  which  he  always  greeted  her  and 
Greyson. 

He  passed  into  the  kitchen,  where  there  was 
warmth  and  comfort  and  cleanliness,  and  the 
appetizing  odors  of  the  early  supper  Marthy  al- 
ways had  ready  for  him  after  one  of  his  tramps. 

When  he  sat  down  to  remove  his  heavy  boots, 
she  came  near,  and  taking  off  his  cap  and 
muffler,  stooped  and  kissed  his  brow. 

^Are  you  very  tired,  preacher  V 

"Oh !  it  is  not  that,  Marthy,  but  the  sights  I 
have  seen  to-day.  Why,  we  don't  know  any- 
thing of  the  misery  and  squalor  of  some  of  the 
mountain  people. 

^^Some  of  the  homes  I  found  are  nothing  but 
shanties.  One  room  each,  in  wdiich  whole  fam- 
ilies eat  and  sleep  and  live  like  animals !  ex- 
cepting that  animals  are  not  profane.  One 
woman  cursed  the  children  before  me  again  and 
again,  apparently  just  to  let  me  see  that  she 
could.     Most  of  them  were  in  rags,  and  this  in 


212  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

Decembei  !  O  Marthy !  dear,  Avho  hath  made 
us  to  differ  ?  What  can  we  render  to  the  Lord 
for  all  his  benefits  to  ns  ?  Two  of  the  men  I  saw 
had  been  doAvn  to  my  first  preaching  service, 
and  they  treated  me  better  than  others.  One 
man  said  he  didn't  know  who  I  was,  and  when 
I  told  him  I  was  Preacher  Delton  he  said  then 
he  had  no  use  for  me.  Preachers  were  all  alike ; 
thev  cheated  and  lied  all  week,  and  then  talked 
religion  on  Sundays.  I  tried  to  get  him  to  let 
me  read  a  few  words  from  the  Bible,  but  he 
cursed  me  and  told  me  he  would  shoot  me  if  I 
didn't  begone !" 

Marthy  shuddered. 
^ Were  you  frightened,  preacher  ?'' 
^^^N'o ;  I  was  too  sorry  for  him  to  think  of  be- 
ing in  danger,  and,  you  know,  I  was  about  my 
Father's  business,  and  so  was  safe.' 

"At  one  house  they  were  more  friendly. 
They  were  eating  dinner  when  I  arrived  and 
would  have  me  go  in." 

Reuben  drew  up  his  shoulders,  and  his  face 
expressed  the  deepest  disgust. 

"There  was  some  dirty-looking  com  bread  on 
a  broken,  greasy  dish,"  he  continued.  "In  a 
cracked  bowl  there  was  some  boiled  bacon.  As 
far  as  I  could  see,  there  were  no  table  knives 
and  forks,  and  but  one  spoon.     The  father  and 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  213 

two  older  boys  were  using  their  pocket  knives ; 
the  rest  of  the  family  ate  with  their  hands.  I 
told  them  what  was  perfectly  true,  that  I  was 
not  hungry.  Yon  know,  I  carried  some  biscuits 
in  my  pocket.  I  tried  to  talk  to  the  children. 
N^one  of  them  had  ever  been  to  school,  nor  had 
any  but  the  two  older  boys  ever  been  to  Mine- 
ville,  only  six  or  seven  miles  away !  These  chil- 
dren did  not  know  who  made  them,  or  who 
Jesus  Christ  was.  Indeed,  even  one  of  the 
women  asked  ^ef  that  wus  the  man  Tib  McCoy 
heerd  about  do^\Ti  at  preachin'  V  " 

^^Preacher,  it  is  all  terrible,"  said  Marthy, 
^^but  w^e  must  not  take  it  so  hard  as  to  be  impa- 
tient about  bettering  their  lives,  but  just  give 
ourselves  more  wholly  to  the  work  from  this 
time  on.  We  can't  hope  to  do  much  actual  work 
among  them  in  the  winter,  but  we  can  do  a  lot 
of  praying  for  them.     Don't  you  think  so?" 

Marthy  was  at  the  stove  making  the  coffee 
w^hile  she  was  talking,  and  Reuben  came  and 
stood  by  her,  then  he  kissed  her  and  said  by 
way  of  reply,  ^^Thank  God  for  my  wife !" 

That  evening  Reuben  w^rote  a  long  letter  to 
Dan  Ruger,  not  the  first  since  he  had  come  to 
Peach  Creek  Valley. 

He  had  only  heard  once  from  Puger,  for 
waiting  was  a  slow  process,  with  him,  as  he  de- 


214:  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher, 

clared  in  his  letter,  but  he  was  ^^practicing  every 
day/'  he  said. 

After  little  Greyson  was  asleep,  his  mother 
set  herself  to  the  pleasant  work  of  writing  to 
Miss  Greyson,  and  as  her  letter  is  characteris- 
tic and  contains  her  impressions  of  her  new 
home,  we  will  give  it.  It  also  gives  an  insight 
into  the  plans  and  purposes  of  the  young  mis- 
sionaries. 

Peach  Valley  ]\Iaxse,  December  — ,  18 — . 

^'My  Dear  Best  FraEXD : 

^^If  it  has  seemed  a  long  time  since  I  wrote 
you,  there  have  been  two  reasons  that  I  hope 
you  will  think  good,  l^irst,  of  course,  I  have 
been  busy,  and  have  done  a  little  of  almost  every 
kind  of  work,  excepting  preaching  and  shing- 
ling !  Second,  I  thought  by  waiting  I  would 
have  more  to  tell. 

^^Well,  we  are  in  our  new  home  at  last,  and 
I  would  never  have  appreciated  it  properly  if 
I  had  not  had  to  spend  two  Aveeks  at  Meason's 
Cross  Roads  and  ten  days  camping  out.  But 
the  camping  was  really  pleasant,  for,  you  know, 
we  had  a  good  tent  and  the  wagon,  and  the 
weather  was  beautiful. 

Greyson  enjoyed  it  as  much  as  we  did,  and 
generally  woke  up  saying,  '^Mummie,  dis  our 
funnv  houshe,  ain't  it  V 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  215 

^'\Ye  moved  liere  the  day  before  Thanksgiv- 
ing Dav,  and  lieub  asked  some  of  the  friends 
tliat  had  been  so  kind  to  ns  to  come  to  a  Thanks- 
giving service.  We  had  prayers  and  sang  some 
hvmns,  and  then  I  handed  aronnd  coffee  and 
molasses  cake.  Reub  didn't  want  me  to  have 
anytliing  more  for  fear  the  people  might  think 
we  were  pntting  on  airs !  But  they  seamed  to 
enjoy  it.  These  people  are  all  friendly  and  hos- 
pitable, and  they  like  us  to  be  the  same. 

^'Oh !  my  dear  friend,  there  is  a  great  work  to 
do  here,  and  when  Reub  comes  in  and  tells  me 
what  he  sees  up  in  the  coves,  I  feel  reconciled 
to  leaving  our  dear  home  in  Wautauga. 

^^Reub  has  had  two  preaching  services  out 
doors,  and  there  were  large  crowds  present. 
Since  the  weather  has  been  cold,  we  feel  the  need 
of  a  comfortable  building,  and  are  praying  now 
that  God  will  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  some  of 
his  people  with  means  to  help  us.  Just  think ! 
lumber  is  so  plentiful  a  few  hundred  dollars 
would  build  a  church  and  a  schoolhouse  too. 
We  need  that  as  well  as  a  church.  There  is  a 
school  building  near  the  village,  but  it  is  so 
small  there  is  not  room  for  more  than  half  the 
people  that  come,  and  the  stove  smokes,  and 
the  glass  is  broken  out  of  all  the  windows  but 
one. 


216  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

"I  have  had  two  Mothers'  Meetings,  and  they 
s&emed  to  be  very  much  enjoyed.  I  want  to  have 
one  here  next  week  if  the  weather  suits.  I  think 
it  would  do  them  good  to  see  my  stove  room 
and  all  the  little  conveniences  that  my  good  hus- 
band has  fixed  for  me.  Keub  said  I  had  better 
invite  the  husbands  too. 

"I  have  not  told  you  yet  how  the  house  looks. 
It  is  built  of  logs,  just  as  Mountain  Manse  was, 
and  ceiled  inside.  We  have  four  rooms  besides 
the  stove  room  and  the  attic,  which  is  unfin- 
ished yet.  There  is  a  porch  in  front,  and  a 
broad  porch  at  the  stove  room,  where  my  wood 
is  piled  ready  for  use.  The  windows  are  all 
glazed,  and  have  board  shutters  too.  It  is  more 
convenient  in  some  respects  than  Mountain 
Manse,  but  that  is  mv  first  love,  and  no  other 
can  take  its  place,  and,  oh !  dear  Miss  Greyson, 
how  we  miss  the  beautiful  view.  Sometimes  I 
think  I  understand  how  the  Swiss  could  die  of 
homesickness.  But  do  not  think  I  am  not  happy 
or  willing  to  stay.  Reub  and  I  both  feel  satis- 
fied that  God  called  us  here,  and  are  glad  to  do 
his  will,  but  I 'am  Marthy  still,  you  know,  and 
so  I  often  wonder  whv  I  could  not  have  served 
him  and  lived  for  him  there ! 

"We  have  had  several  letters  from  ladies  who 
want  to  come  here  to  teach,  but  so  far  only  two 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  217 

seemed  at  all  suitable.  Reub  thinks  it  very  im- 
portant to  have  the  right  kind  of  woman,  and 
have  her  right  away.  You  see,  if  the  teacher 
comes  by  April,  she  will  get  the  benefit  of  the 
Public  School  Fund  for  three  months. 

^What  we  need  is  an  earnest  Christian  woman 
who  comes  to  do  the  Master's  work  not  for  the 
money  or  for  the  fun  of  the  thing. 

^'^One  young  lady  wrote  to  know  if  many  sum- 
mer boarders  come  here,  and  if  they  dressed 
much ! 

^'It  seemed  a  very  funny  question,  and  we 
laughed  heartily,  for  to  both  of  us  it  seems  as 
far  away  from  the  resorts  of  summer  boarders 
as  the  Klondyke !  You  know  how  we  feel  about 
this  work  being  in  the  hands  of  educated  and 
consecrated  mountain  men  and  women.  ^ot 
that  others  are  not  earnest  and  capable,  but 
these  mountain  people,  even  the  dullest  of  them, 
know  what  they  call  the  '^differ'nce'  between 
those  who  were  raised  in  the  mountains  and 
those  from  do^^m  below,  and  it  seems  that  we  can 
get  nearer  to  them. 

"Reub  tries  every  way  to  keep  up  what  he 
calls  ^the  look  of  a  mountain  man.'  He  never 
wears  anything  but  jeans  and  heavy  brogans, 
and  he  doesn't  want  me  to  wear  anything  but 
calico  dresses,  excepting,  of  course,  in  the  win- 


218  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

ter,  when,  for  comfort's  sake,  I  put  on  woolen; 
but  my  best  dress  now  is  a  linsev — ves,  and  it 
looks  right  nicely,  too ! 

^'AYe  believe,  more  than  ever,  that  if  we  take 
the  same  materials  thev  have,  and  make  our- 
selves  and  our  home  comfortable  with  them,  Ave 
can  do  more  good  and  help  them  better.  Don't 
jon  think  so  ? 

^^A  man  who  helped  to  raise  the  house  came 
in  the  other  day  and  said  to  Reub,  ^I'm  a-goin' 
ter  build  another  room  to  my  house,  mebby  two, 
for  it  do  seem  like  you-uns  live  more  respecter- 
ble  like  than  we-uns,  an'  mebbj  that's  ther  rea- 


son.' 


^^I  did  want  to  sav :  and  mavbe  if  vou  would 
make  some  soaj)  and  use  it  on  yourselves  and 
your  clothes,  you  would  certainly  feel  more  ^re- 
specterble  like.' 

"I  wrote  you  about  the  young  girl  Liny 
^^feason  ?  Well,  her  mother  is  going  to  let  her 
stay  with  me  to  help  me  this  winter — that  is 
what  they  say — but  I  hope  to  help  her.  I  want 
to  teach  her  to  sew  and  to  cook,  too,  as  well  as 
how  to  read.  And  Keub  will  feel  so  much 
better  satisfied  when  he  s'oes  off  to  stav  all 
day. 

^^We  have  had  an  interesting  letter  from  Dan 
Euger  lately.     You  would  be  surprised  to  see 


Beuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  219 

how  lie  is  improving  in  spelling  and  grammar 
too.  Instead  of  the  terrible  restlessness  he  had 
to  suffer  from  at  first,  he  savs  he  don't  mind  it  so 
much  now.  He  reads  and  writes  every  day,  and 
tries  to  memorize  some  from  the  Bible.  He 
says  his  best  friend  there  is  the  jailer's  little 
daughter,  who  comes  to  see  him  every  day,  talk- 
ing to  him  through  the  grating. 

^^^fr.  Conway,  the  preacher  at  Evergreen, 
wrote  to  Reub  that  he  never  saw  a  man  who 
gave  better  evidence  of  being  a  changed  man. 

"Somebody  heard  Reub  telling  about  him, 
and  said,  ^Hem  !  just  wait  till  he  gets  out !  It's 
easy  enough  for  him  to  be  good  when  he  hasn't 
any  temptations.'  Reuben  never  answered  him, 
for,  as  he  said  to  me  afterwards,  'People  who 
have  never  known  how  God  helps  you,  nor  how 
many  kinds  of  temptations  beset  a  Christian, 
don't  understand  what  we  sav  anv  more  than  I 
would  understand  German.' 

"He  is  to  be  tried  at  the  spring  temi  of  Wau- 
tauga  Court,  and  Reub  has  promised  to  go  over, 
even  if  he  isn't  called  as  a  witness. 

"Reub  has  great  hopes  of  the  governor  par- 
donins:  him,  and  he  wrote  to  Ruffer  and  told  him 
so,  and  he  answered,  'Well,  preacher,  if  God  sets 
me  free  from  this  jail,  I'll  make  a  bee  line  fur 
you,  and  vou  must  let  me  work  for  vou  and  with 


220  Beuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 

you  the  rest  of  inj  life.'      Wasn't  that  right 
touching  ?    He  surely  is  grateful  to  Reub. 

^^Good-bye.  It's  late  and  Reub  wants  break- 
fast  earlier  than  usual  to-morrow,  but  I  must 
thank  you  for  the  papers  and  magazines.  We 
read  together  every  night  after  baby  is  asleep. 
Thank  you  for  the  pictures  too.  Get  the  chil- 
dren interested  in  collecting  all  sorts  of  Bible 
pictures.  We  take  them  up  to  the  cove  people. 
At  Christmas  we  want  to  have  a  tree  for  all  the 
children  in  the  neighborhood. 

^^Write  to  us  soon.  ^N^obodv  but  God  knows 
how  your  letters  cheer  and  strengthen  us.  Reub 
sends  much  love." 

"Faithfully  yours, 

"JMarthy  Lester  Delton." 

As  the  long  dreary  winter  wore  to  an  end, 
Marthy  was  stout  and  brave  enough  to  have 
gone  on  manj^  a  trip  with  Reuben,  but  even 
after  Liny  ^leason  came  she  did  not  feel  that 
both  of  them  ought  to  be  absent  from  little  Grey- 
son  at  once. 

Liny  Meason  proved  a  bright  scholar  in  the 
kitchen,  as  well  as  at  her  books,  and  Marthy's 
love  for  Miss  Grevson  had  not  been  more  wor- 
shipful  than  Avas  hers  for  Marthy.  She  was  will- 
ing to  learn  to  cook  and  to  sew  just  because  she 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  221 

wanted  to  be  like  Marthy,  and  for  tlie  same  rea- 
son she  wanted  to  study  the  Bible  and  to  be  a 
Christian. 

It  was  a  source  of  grief  to  Marthy  that  Liny 
had  no  higher  motive  than  this,  but  Reuben  eon- 
soled  her  by  reminding  her  that  some  people 
naturally  accept  the  truth  more  slowly  than 
others. 

The  man  who  at  first  only  saw  men  as  trees 
walking  ended  by  seeing  them  as  they  were. 

"It  is  another  of  those  lessons  in  patience  that 
God  has  been  setting  us  lately,  little  woman. 
Let  us  try  to  learn  them  perfectly." 


CHAP  TEE  V. 

Preacher  Delton  iist  a  ITew  Roee. 

TI^ME  flies  swiftly  even  away  from  the  biis^' 
liaiints  of  men  when  one  leads  a  busy  life, 
and  it  seemed  to  Reuben  and  ]\Iartliy  Delton 
that  it  had  never  flown  so  fast  as  during  the 

first  six  months  of  their  stav  at  Peach  Valley 

ii  I- 

Manse. 

It  was  not  onlv  that  there  was  so  much  to  do, 
but  so  much  to  discover. 

The  doing  seemed  at  first  only  for  themselves, 
for  it  consisted  chieflv  in  making  their  new  home 
comfortable  and  neat,  but  these  young  people 
were  not  selfish  in  this  effort. 

It  seemed  to  those  who  watched  and  studied 
them  as  did  Miss  Grevson  and  some  of  their  fel- 
low-workers  as  if  they  never  lost  sight  of  the 
fact  that  they  were  to  witness  by  their  lives  and 
homes  to  the  uplifting  and  beautifying  power 
of  religion. 

If  they  could,  in  a  simple  way  and  out  «if  the 
material  at  hand,  make  their  home  more  com- 
fortable 01  more  attractive,  then  at  once  it  be- 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher,  223 

came  the  Master's  work  for  tliem  as  an  object 
lesson  to  many  who  had  never  had  an  idea  of 
what  home  was  intended  to  be. 

But  besides  this  doing,  as  we  have  said,  there 
was  the  discovering  of  people  to  be  helped,  and 
of  ways  of  helping  them.  It  would  have  been 
easy  enough,  with  the  assistance  of  outside 
friends  who  had  abundant  means,  to  have  gone 
around  like  good  fairies,  and  have  dropped  com- 
forts d.r\.(l  attractions  in  the  wretched  I.jvlIs 
where  generations  of  miserable  lives  had  been 
lived,  but  to  discover  the  points  of  contact,  and 
to  show  t]:8  sympathy  that  welled  up  in  theif 
Jjearts;  to  preach  the  gospel  of  hope  and  cheer 
to  people  Avho  had  yet  to  learn  the  meaning  of 
tliose  Avords  was  a  nobler  work  and  a  truer  test 
of  their  interest. 

The  spring,  though  late,  had  been  wonder- 
fullv  beautiful. 

'Hie  valley  of  Peach  Cove,  shut  in  on  eYQvy 
side  bv  the  mountains,  furnished  a  veritable  hot- 
bed  for  lature,  and  there  was  such  a  wealth  of 
lovely  r.zalias  of  every  shade  from  orange  to 
pure  white,  and  such  myriads  of  kalmias,  as  well 
as  acres  of  the  smaller  flowers  that  love  the 
sunnv  meadow  lands  that  the  fields  bordering 
the  creek  seemed  like  some  beautiful  piece  of 
tapestry  spread  out  in  the  spring  sunlight. 


224  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

Then  ^vhen  tlie  rhododendrons  came  on,  glori- 
fvinG"  the  dark  monntain  sides,  and  occasionallv 
adding  their  delicate  color  to  the  pale  greens 
along  the  creek,  Marthy's  heart  was  full  of  joy, 
and  she  cried  ont  to  Renben,  as  thev  came  in 
from  a  round  of  visits  one  afternoon  in  May, 
^^O  preacher !  this  is  almost  as  good  as  Wau- 
tauga.  But  can't  you  find  me  one  place  where  I 
can  see  far  off  ?  Those  pale  blue  mountains  al- 
ways made  me  feel  nearer  to  heaven." 

Late  in  March  the  teacher.  Miss  Grace  Fields, 
arrived,  and  as  it  was  necessary  for  her  to  be 
near  the  schoolhouse,  she  boarded  in  Mineville. 

The  Deltons  were  sorry  for  her  sake,  and  for 
Marthy  too,  that  she  could  not  have  made  her 
home  with  them,  but  if  she  was  to  be  influential 
in  the  families  as  well  as  with  her  scholars,  it 
was  all  important  that  she  should  live  among 
them. 

Marthy  called  on  her  promptly  and  greeted 
her  cordially.  She  also  gave  her  a  standing  in- 
vitation to  spend  every  other  Friday  night  at 
the  manse.  An  invitation  which  Miss  Fields 
accepted  rather  as  if  she  must  than  because  she 
was  really  pleased  to  go. 

"She's  not  a  mountain  woman.  Reub,  she 
don't  know  how  to  treat  us  any  more  than  the 
people  in  the  village,  and  I'm  afraid  it  makes 


Eeuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  225 

her  feel  very  lonely;  and  tliat  will  make  her 
^act  differ'nt/  as  these  people  say.  She's  ^awfnl 
shnt-montherl,'  as  Mr.  Moonev  would  sav.  I 
wish  we  conld  draw  her  out  some  way.  She 
looks  so  dazed,  like  she  didn't  know  where  she 
was,  and  wasn't  quite  awake." 

Reuben  laughed.  ^'Yes,  she's  ^shut-mouthed', 
hut  we  are  strangers  to  her,  and,  you  know,  if 
slie  feels  different  from  the  rest  of  us,  it  is  very 
well  she  is  silent,  because  nothing  riles  those  peo- 
ple more  than  for  somebody  to  come  along  and 
bco'in  to  tell  'em  about  how  thev  had  thin2;s  at 
home.  It  is  'most  as  bad  as  for  a  man  to  be2:in 
telling  how  his  mother  always  does,  eh,  little 


woman 


9V 


I  don't  pretend  to  know  about  that  sort  of 
thing.  I  am  a  highly-favored  woman,  whose 
husband  always  likes  her  way  the  best,"  said 
^Farthy,  with  a  pretty  little  flirt  of  her  head  and 
a  beaming  smile. 

Miss  Fields  was  really  studying  Reuben  and 
^tarthv  with  much  interest.  She  watched  them 
closelv  when  thev  talked,  and  wondered  at  the 
very  correct  English  they  spoke  compared  with 
others  around  her. 

She  seemed  timid  about  visiting  them  at  first, 
but  when  two  or  three  successive  Fridavs,  either 
Reuben  or  Marthv  had  driven  in  for  her,  she 


226  Beuhen  Delton,  Preacher, 

gave  herself  up  to  their  cordiality,  and,  while 
her  reserve  continued,  it  had  more  to  do  with 
her  past  life  than  her  present  opinions. 

^^Such  a  queer  mixture  of  simplicity  of  dress 
and  living,  with  refinement  of  manner  and  culti- 
vation of  mind,  I  have  never  seem  before! 
Such  deliciously  prepared  and  perfectly  cooked 
food  served  in  such  plain  ware.  Such  coarse 
vet  daintilv  clean  table  cloths.     Yet  everything 

1/1/  .7  l-J 

tasting  as  well  as  if  served  on  Sevres  China  to 
a  woman  who  lives  as  I  have  to  from  dav  to 
dav."  So  wrote  Miss  Fields  to  a  friend  after 
one  of  her  visits  to  Valley  Manse. 

One  afternoon  early  in  July,  while  Reuben 
was  off  in  Crab  Tree  Cove,  Marthy  got  Grey- 
son  readv  and  drove  over  to  Mineville  for  Miss 
Fields.  She  took  Liny  Meason  that  far  on  her 
wav  home,  as  her  mother  had  sent  her  word  she 
must  come  for  a  day  or  two. 

lany  was  beginning  to  show  a  decided  re^ 
luctance  to  go  back  home,  and  this  was  a  matter 
of  concern  to  Marthy. 

"Liny,"  she  said,  "when  I  first  saw  how  dif- 
ferent my  home  was  from  the  school  home  at 
Skyland,  right  then,  though  I  was  a  child,  I 
made  up  my  mind  I  was  going  to  make  it  nice 
and  pretty  if  I  could,  but  I  wouldn't  have  done 
it  if  I  had  stayed  away.     It  makes  me  happy 


u 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  227 

whenever  I  think  about  it  now.    God  helped  me, 
and  he  will  help  you.'' 

It  was  a  lovely  afternoon^  with  the  warm  sun- 
light and  the  cool  breeze  that  nearly  always 
characterize  the  mountain  summers. 

Miss  Fields  was  ready  when  Marthy  drove  up, 
and  as  it  was  still  early,  she  proposed  that  they 
should  drive  out  on  Crab  Tree  Cove  road. 

Maybe  we  will  meet  my  husband,''  she  said. 
He  has  been  up  in  the  cove  all  day." 

Anywhere !  anywhere !  where  I  can  see  only 
trees  and  sky  and  water !"  exclaimed  Miss 
Fields  as  she  stepped  into  the  buggy  and  took 
little  Greyson  on  her  lap. 

"Have  things  been  running  smoothly  at  school 
this  week  ?"  asked  Marthy,  anxious  to  show  her 
interest  in  her  companion's  work. 

"Oh !  don't  ask  me.  Help  me  to  forget  the 
school  if  I  can  for  the  next  two  days !" 

Marthy  might  have  been  willing  to  have 
granted  the  re<]uest  if  she  had  not  turned  just 
then  and  seen  the  tears  in  Miss  Fields'  eyes  and 
the  look  of  disgust  in  her  face. 

"Something  has  been  worrying  you,"  she  re- 
plied quickly ;  "and,  Miss  Fields,  you  must  tell 
me  what  it  is.  You  must  let  my  husband  and 
myself  sympathize  with  you,  and  help  you  when 
wo  can.    We  regard  it  as  a  part  of  our  work  here 


228  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

to  support  yoii  in  your  capacity  as  teacher,  and 
to  do  all  we  can  to  make  you  comfortable  and 
happy/' 

The  flood  gates  were  opened  now,  and  the 
tears  that  had  been  so  long  pent  up  flowed  freely. 
After  a  few  moments  she  wiped  her  eyes,  and 
said,  ^^Mrs.  Delton,  I  am  reaping  the  reward  of 
mv  own  wrono'-doinffs.     Since  I  have  come  here 

t/  o  o 

and  have  seen  the  unselfish  work  that  Mr.  Del- 
ton  and  you  are  doing,  I  see  what  a  sham  I  have 
been.  I  am  not  really  qualified  to  teach  any- 
where, especially  here,  where  one  teaches  by  life 
as  well  by  word  of  mouth.  I  only  came  to  get 
as  far  awav  from  home  and  the  world  I  had  lived 
in  as  I  could.  I  thought  that  anybody  could 
teach  a  moimtain  school.  It  is  a  great  mistake, 
and  the  scholars  found  it  out  sooner  than  I  did. 
Do  you  know  who  Billy  Whitley  is  ?"  she 
added. 

^^I  know  the  family,  and  think  I  know  him  by 
sight.     He  is  nearly  grown,  isn't  he  ?" 

"Yes,  and  he  is  the  hardest  boy  in  the  school 
to  manage.  Tie  knows  that  I  cannot  whip  him, 
and  when  I  set  him  a  task  for  punishment,  he 
simply  looks  me  in  the  face  and  says,  ^I'll  not 
do  it.'  To-day  he  didn't  know  a  single  lesson, 
and  I  told  him  to  stav  in  after  school,  but  he 
had  made  other  plans,  and  he  just  broke  into  a 


Beuben  Delton,  Preacher.  229 

rude  laugii  and  said,  'I'm  a-goin'  a-fishin'  this 
evenin',  an'  I'd  like  ter  see  any  little  woman 
like  Yon  keep  me  from  it !'  i^Tow,  what  conld  I 
do  ?  I  thonght  of  sending  np  town  for  some- 
body to  whip  him,  hnt  do  yon  tliink  I  conld  get 
a  hoy  or  girl  to  go  1  ^ot  one !  They're,  every 
one,  afraid  of  him,  and  I  had  to  see  him  walk 
off  before  school  was  ont  and  never  say  a 
word." 

Marthy's  eyes  flashed,  thongh  she  felt  that 
perhaps  Miss  Fields  had  begnn  wrong,  bnt  here 
was  an  ontrageons  act  of  disobedience  and  de- 
fiance, and  it  had  to  be  stopped. 

'Mnst  wait  till  my  hnsband  hears  of  it,"  she 
said,  warmly.  '^I  am  hoping  to  see  him  com- 
ing at  every  tnrn  in  the  road." 

She  had  hardly  finished  speaking  before  the 
sonnd  of  a  merry  whistle  greeted  their  ears. 

''There  he  is !"  exclaimed  Marthy,  laughing. 
"He  may  not  have  rings  on  his  fingers  and  bells 
on  his  toes,  bnt  he  surelv  has  music  wherever  he 
goes !" 

"Heyo,  f ardie !  See  me  ?"  cried  out  little 
Greyson,  as  Reuben  approached,  mounted  on 
Jobo,  the  pretty  little  mule. 

''Well!  this  is  nice!  I  didn't  know  I  was 
to  have  an  escort  home.  I  feel  like  a  conquer- 
ing hero,"  Reuben  said,  lifting  his  hat  to  Miss 


230  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

Fields  and  coming  near  enough  to  tlie  buggy  to 
lift  his  baby  from  her  lap  to  a  seat  in  front  of 
him. 

It  was  not  long  before  Mar  thy  had  told  him 
the  story  of  Billy  Whitley's  insolence. 

"Don't  worry^  Miss  Fields,"  he  said  quietly, 
"I'll  come  in  on  Mondav  and  settle  that  matter." 
Then  he  changed  the  subject  and  began  to  tell 
her  the  story  of  Cripple  Benny. 

"Away  up  in  the  wildest  part  of  Crab  Tree 
Cove  there  is  a  miserable  cabin  occupied  by  a 
family  of  nine  bv  the  name  of  McCune.  About 
three  months  ago  I  found  the  place.  I  say  I 
found  it,  but  I  believe  God  led  me  there.  When 
I  stopped  at  the  door,  the  mother  come  out  with 
a  child  about  a  year  old  in  her  arms,  and  after 
her  trooped  six  others  of  various  sizes. 

"  ^Good  evening !'  I  said. 

"  ^Evenin' ' 

"  ^You  have  a  house  full  of  children,'  I  said. 
'How  many  are  there  V 

"  'Eight.  Jim,  he's  off  wid  his  par.  Ther's 
another,  but  he  ain't  got  no  sense.' 

"I  asked  to  see  him.  She  hesitated  a  min- 
ute, then  said  in  a  perfectly  indifferent  tone, 
'Thar  he  is.'  She  pointed  to  a  wretched  bed  in 
the  corner  of  the  room,  and  there  lay  a  pale, 
emaciated  boy  whose  age  it  was  impossible  to 


ii 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher,  231 

determine.     His  large  eves  rested  on  me  with 
evident  surprise.     I  spoke  to  liim. 

"  ^He  ain't  got  no  sense ;  he  cain't  talk.'  said 
the  mother  J  who  was  moving  ahont  the  room. 

''  ^Tow  old  is  he  V 
'He's  nigh  on  ter  eighteen.' 
^Oh  !'  I  said,  'poor  fellow  !'    My  heart  cried 
ont  to  God  for  the  poor  boy.     I  took  his  wasted 
hand  and  asked  what  his  name  was. 

"  ^Benny,  his  par  calls  him,  hut/  she  added 
with  a  brutal  laugh,  ^  'tain't  no  use  ter  call  him 
nothin' ;  he  ain't  got  no  sense.' 

^^\11  the  while  those  large  patient  eyes  fol- 
lowed me,  filled  with  all  the  pathos  for  me  that 
one  often  sees  in  the  eyes  of  a  dumb  animal. 

"  ^Benny,'  I  said  gently,  'I  am  Preacher  Del- 
ton.  I  am  coming  to  see  you  again.'  He  moved 
his  lips  and  evidently  wanted  to  speak,  but  ut- 
tered no  sound. 

"  ^  Do  say !  be  you  ther  new  preacher  down 
ter  Mineville  ?  Well,  I've  heerd  tell  o'  you-uns, 
an'  they  do  say  you  cain't  mek  a  hoss  trade,  nur 
don'  tech  a  drap  o'  w'iskey  no  time.' 

^^The  woman's  face  had  brightened  consider- 
ablv,  but  it  still  wore  an  almost  animal  look  of 
hardness.  She  turned  from  speaking  to  me  and 
cuffed  one  of  the  children  about  his  face.  I 
could  not  see  what  for,  unless  it  was  her  way  of 


232  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

expressing  lier  contempt  for  a  preacher  who 
conldn't  make  a  good  horse  trade  and  never 
drank ! 

"All  the  time  I  kept  my  eyes  on  that  face  on 
the  dirty  bed.  The  boy's  eyes  were  fixed  on  me. 
I  patted  his  hand,  and  at  first  he  was  startled, 
but  after  he  fonnd  that  it  meant  only  friendli- 
ness, he  seemed  to  like  it.  I  cannot  tell  yon 
Avhat  prompted  me  to  take  ont  my  knife  and 
begin  to  whittle  a  chip  that  I  j)icked  np  from  the 
floor.  Benny's  eyes  followed  my  movements  in- 
tently. Then  I  pnt  my  knife  in  one  of  his 
hands  and  the  chip  in  the  other.  The  effect  was 
startling.  He  made  an  effort  to  smile.  Of 
course,  he  had  no  control  over  his  hand,  but 
when  he  dropped  the  knife  I  gave  it  back  to 
him,  and  he  took  it  and  tried  again.  Turning 
round,  I  said  in  a  positive  voice,  ^Benny  has 
sense,  and  you  must  never  tell  me  or  anyone 
else  again  that  he  has  not.  I  believe  I  can  teach 
him  to  cut  so  as  to  amuse  himself,  Mrs.  Mc- 
Cune.  What  would  you  be  if  for  nearly  eigh- 
teen years  people  had  said  you  had  no  sense,  and 
had  treated  you  so  ?  Do  you  know  God  will 
bring  you  to  judgment  for  treating  your  child 
this  way  V  She  seemed  frightened,  and  lost  the 
defiant  look  she  had  worn.  I  asked  her  if  she 
had  a  Bible.     She  actually  didn't  know  what  I 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  233 

meant  at  first.  Then  she  asked  in  a  sullen 
tone,  '^0,  ef  ye  mean  one  o'  them  books  ther 
preacher  reads.' 

"  ^Can  yon  read  V  ^]^o.'  ^Can  yonr  husband 
read  V  ^jSTo.'  ^Have  any  of  your  children  been 
to  school?'     ^N'o.' 

^^I  drew  my  Bible  from  my  pocket,  and  read 
of  how  the  father  brou^iit  his  demoniac  boy  to 
Jesus  to  cure.  She  Vv^as  making  an  effort  to 
clean  up  some  of  the  dirt  that  lay  in  heaps  about 
the  room,  but  stopped  a  moment,  and  asked, 
'Whar  is  he  V  I  tried  to  make  the  story  of  the 
Christ  plain  to  this  poor  benighted  mind,  and 
then  I  knelt  down  by  the  boy  and  prayed.  I 
do  not  remember  in  my  life  before  to  have 
prayed  for  another  as  I  prayed  for  him — for  all 
of  them.  That  was  the  first  of  many  visits.  I 
go  there  of tener  than  to  any  other  home,  for  the 
need  is  greater,  and  now,  look  here.  Miss 
Fields !" 

Reuben  held  up  a  rudely-carved  knife  of  rho- 
dodendron root;  even  the  roughness  of  the 
handle  had  been  imitated. 

"This  is  Benny  McCune's  work.  But  that  is 
not  the  best  news  I  have  to  tell.  He  has  learned 
to  read,  yes,  and  learned  in  three  months !  And 
his  delight  is  something  that  it  is  worth  half  a 
lifetime  to  witness.     I  took  him  some  pictures 


234:  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

to-day,  and  some  sand  paper,  and  he  just  lay  and 
cried  for  joy  over  the  latter.  And  I  do  believe 
that  the  change  in  the  boy  has  resulted  in  the 
conversion  of  the  mother;  certainly  she  is  not 
the  savage  creatnre  that  I  first  met."  ^ 

While  Kenben  had  been  telling  this  interest- 
ing story,  they  had  driven  by  a  short  route  to  the 
manse. 

Miss  Fields  entered  that  simple  log-cabin 
home  with  a  feeling  of  reverence  which,  as  she 
wrote  a  friend,  was  deeper  than  any  she  had 
ever  experienced  beneath  the  fretted  vault  of 
anv  citv  church.  "For  it  is  the  centre  of  an  in- 
fluence  so  holy  and  so  powerful  that  it  will  never 
be  fully  estimated  this  side  of  eternity.  I  have 
only  begmn  to  see  the  possibilities  in  life  since 
I  began  to  know  these  people.'' 

Before  we  pass  to  the  more  eventful  scenes 
of  this  summer,  we  must  tell  how  Reuben  dealt 
with  Miss  Fields'  obstreperous  pupil,  Billy 
Whitley. 

Having  first  charged  her  not  to  mention  to 
anv  one  that  she  had  told  him  of  her  trouble,  I 

or  that  anv  one  was  comino;  to  settle  it  for  her, 

ft/  O  ■'J 

he  went  into  Mineville  on  Monday,  and,  pro-  ♦ 

viding  himself  with  a  stout  horsewhip,  went  over 

to  the  schoolhouse  at  dinner  recess.     The  boys.  v 

^  This  incident  is  founded  on  fact. 


Beuben  Delton,  Preacher.  235 

were  playing  ball  as  Reuben  drew  near,  and  he 
called  to  tliem  in  liis  usual  cordial  manner. 

Billy  Whitley  did  not  speak,  but  stopped 
playing,  and  seemed  somewhat  surprised  to  see 
the  preacher.  He  had  had  the  audacity  to  come 
back  to  school,  though  he  had  not  prepared  a 
lesson,  because  he  wanted  to  play  ball,  baseball 
beins;  his  favorite  amusement. 

Keuben  saw  his  opportunity,  and  quickened 
his  step.  His  self-control  was  complete,  and  he 
was  talking  to  the  boys  as  he  approached.  Sud- 
denly, seizing  Whitley  by  his  shirt  collar,  he 
raised  his  whip,  his  eyes  fairly  blazing  with  in- 
di'o'nation. 

^'You  big  coward  !  You  comtemptible  bully  ! 
You  don't  know  how  to  treat  a  lady,  but  I'll 
show  you !" 

He  laid  on  the  whip  across  the  boy's  shoul- 
ders and  hips,  and  Billy  Whitley  was  too  dimnb- 
founded  to  do  anything  but  utter  the  most 
frightful  howls. 

a 

Miss  Fields,  attracted  by  these  unusual 
sounds,  came  to  the  door  in  time  to  see  him  turn 
on  her  gallant  defender  and  try  to  throw  him. 
But  Billy  Whitley  had  mistaken  his  man. 
Reuben  was  prepared  for  his  antagonist.  His 
splendid  physique,  his  abiding  self-control,  gave 
him  the  advantage,  though  Billy  was  as  tall  as 


236  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

he  was.  He  laid  the  bay  on  the  ground  as  easily 
as  he  would  have  laid  a  boy  of  ten,  and  there  he 
whipped  him  again.  Then,  raising  him  by  his 
suspenders,  he  pushed  him  forward  to  the  school- 
room door,  and  said,  ^'E^ow,  sir,  you  beg  Miss 
Fields'  pardon,  and  then  get  your  books  and  go 
home  with  me." 

Billy  ^Miitley,  thoroughly  cowed,  sobbed  out, 
^^I  beg — you're — pardon,"  with  his  big  fists  in 
his  eyes  like  a  child  of  ten. 

"jSTow  gather  up  your  books,"  said  Reuben, 
quietly.  He  concluded  that  the  wisest  thing  he 
could  do  was  to  accompany  the  boy  home,  and  to 
make  the  necessary  explanations  to  his  father. 

The  deep  spots  of  color  on  the  cheeks  of  Miss 
Fields  showed  her  excitement,  and  the  light  that 
shone  in  her  eyes  testified  her  gratitude  and  ad- 
miration. 

^'^ow,  boys  and  girls,"  said  Eeuben,  as  he 
turned  towards  the  scholars  who  had  gathered 
outside,  ^Vou  see  that  you  must  obey  your 
teacher.  !Nobodv  but  a  coward  ever  takes  ad- 
vantage  of  a  person  he  knows  can't  whip  him." 
He  raised  his  hat  and  said  good  morning  to 
Miss  Fields. 

Billy  Whitley  did  not  fancy  the  idea  of  go- 
ing off  in  company  with  the  man  who  had  just 
conquered  him,  and  started  to  run  as  soon  as 


Reuhe7i  Deltoii,  Preacher.  237 

his  feet  touched  the  ground,  but  Reuben  Delton 
had  other  plans,  and  with  a  few  strides  was  up 
with  him. 

"TTold  on,  Billy !"  he  said  in  a  firm  but 
friendly  tone ;  ^^I  am  going  with  you."  He  laid 
his  hand  on  Billy's  arm.  The  boy  turned  a 
frightened  face  to  him,  and  said,  "Preacher, 
don't  you  go  home.  I'm  a-goin'  ter  do  better. 
Don't  yer  go;  ef  par  sees  you,  he'll  lay  on  ter 
me,  sartain,  an'  he  kin  beat  you  even  fur  whopin 
all  holler !" 

His  earnestness  was  so  ludicrous  that  Reuben's 
gravity  was  sorely  tried,  but  he  had  no  wish  to 
break  the  boy's  spirit  entirely. 

'^^I'd  rather  go,  Billy.  I  want  your  father  to 
understand  just  how  I  came  to  whip  you.  I'll 
not  let  him  hurt  you.  You  see,  if  you  take 
time  to  think  about  it,  you  did  a  low-do^^^l,  mean 
thing  when  you  defied  a  woman  that  couldn't 
whip  you.  The  school  was  going  to  suffer  for 
it.  The  thing  had  to  stop,  and  there  wasn't  any- 
body that  could  do  it  as  well  as  I  could." 

The  boy  hung  his  head  and  walked  quietly 
by  Reuben's  side.  His  father  had  a  blacksmith's 
shop  on  the  other  side  of  toA^m,  and  as  they 
turned  into  the  one  village  street,  Billy  began  to 
feel  more  and  more  uncomfortable.  Reuben 
talked  with  him  to  put  him  at  ease;  talked  of 
fishing  and  farm  work,  and  though  everybody 


238 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


they  met  turned  and  looked  at  this  rather  ill- 
sorted  couple,  nobody  ventured  to  ask  what  it 
meant,  and  Billy  assumed  a  more  swaggering 
air  as  he  neared  the  one  store. 

Somebody  called  out,  ^Treacher,  I  wisht 
you'd  stop  jest  a  minute,''  but  Reuben  never 
halted,  only,  looking  over  his  shoulder,  said  with 
a  smile,  ^^I'll  be  back  in  a  few  minutes.  I  have 
to  see  Whitlev  on  a  little  business." 

In  a  few  words  he  explained  to  the  boy's 
father  what  he  had  done  and  why,  and  added, 
^^Billy  understands  why  I  whipped  him.  He 
has  apologized,  and  he  has  to  behave  or  stay 
away  from  school." 

^^He  got  w'at  he  deserved,  an'  I'm  glad  of  it," 
said  Whitley,  ^Vho  was  a  sensible  man,  but  had 
a  pretty  high  temper,  as  Billy  knew.  But 
Reuben  Delton's  quiet  manner  soothed  that, 
and  when  he  left  them  there  was  planted  in  the 
heart  of  Billy  Whitley  the  germ  of  an  un- 
bounded admiration  for  the  man  who  had  just 
given  him  a  thrashing.  And  as  the  story  spread, 
for,  of  course,  it  did  spread,  Reuben  won  more 
and  more  the  respect  of  the  community. 

If  it  is  true  that  ^^all  the  world  loves  a  lover," 
it  is  equally  true  that  all  the  world  admires  a 
man  of  physical  courage.  Probably  because  in 
this  case  the  results  are  seen,  whereas  those  of 
moral  courage  are  knoT\Ti  only  to  God ! 


% 

f 

^ 


CHAPTEK  VI. 

The  Deltois^s  as  Psychological  Studies. 

O^E  of  the  discouragements  that  Peiiben 
Delton  had  to  fight  in  his  work  in  Peach 
Creek  Vallej  was  the  infatuation  that  mica 
mining  possessed  for  some  of  the  better  class  of 
farmers,  especially  the  younger  men. 

A  few  years  before  some  outside  parties  had 
leased  the  mica  interests  on  two  or  three  farms, 
and  it  was  these  men  who  employed  Laxley  and 
Daring  as  superintendents.  But  many  of  the 
young  farmers  now  were  digging  for  themselves, 
presenting  often  to  those  who  looked  on  the 
same  melancholy  spectacle  that  the  gambler 
does. 

They  were  trying  to  get  sometTiing  for  noth- 
ing, and  in  these  efforts,  oftener  vain  than  not, 
time  that  ought  to  have  been  spent  in  putting  in 
their  crops  was  used  in  searching  for  mica. 

Every  now  and  then  some  one  would  dig  into 
a  rich  place,  getting  out  maybe  thirty  or  forty 
dollars'  worth  of  mica  in  a  few  hours,  and  then 
the  whole  neighborhood  would  be  thrown  into 
such  a  craze  for  mica  that  in  the  demoralization 


240  Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 

tliat  follows  families  were  often  reduced  to  suf- 
fering. 

Many  were  the  hours  that  Reuhen  Delton 
studied  the  prohlem  of  how  to  hreak  up  this  de- 
moralizing state  of  things;  and  many  were  the 
times  that  he  and  Marthj  prayed  over  it. 

He  recognized  perfectly  well  that  mica  min- 
ing in  itself  might  be  as  legitimate  as  any  other 
business,  and  vet  there  were  attendant  circum-  l 

stances   that   made    it   wonderfully   like   gam-  i. 

bling.  I 

A  man  would  spend  days  digging  in  a  fever-  | 

ish  restlessness  that  unfitted  him  for  anything 
else  without  once  striking  a  mica  vein,  and  all 
because  somebody  at  some  time  had  dug  up  a 
little  fortune  in  a  few  hours ! 

Eeuben  had  made  most  careful  inquiries  from 
reliable  parties,  and  had  found  that  almost  every 
mountain  man  that  had  followed  mica  digging 
was  a  poorer  man  than  if  he  had  worked  his 
farm,  and  the  saddest  part  of  it  was  that  no- 
body ever  wanted  to  stop.  They  were  always 
hoping  that  the  next  time  they  would  find  the 
mica. 

The  farm  lands  in  the  valley  were  fine,  the 
corn  crops  often  magnificent.  Up  in  the  coves 
comfortable  incomes  were  hid  in  the  possibilities 
of  the  fruit  crops,  especially  peaches,  and  yet 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  241 

the  sillj  haste  to  get  rich,  on  the  part  of  some, 
and  the  laziness,  on  the  part  of  others,  was  actu- 
ally keeping  back  God's  blessing  from  field  and 
cove ! 

One  night  Reuben  said  to  Marthy,  ^^Little 
woman,  I  believe  the  best  thing  I  can  do  to  stop 
the  mica  digging  is  to  show  these  people  what 
can  be  done  with  the  lands  by  faithful,  patient 
labor.  I  am  going  to  do  my  level  best  on  my 
farm  this  year,  and  I'm  going  to  try  a  peach 
orchard  over  in  that  sheltered  field  bevond  the 
bam." 

"I  believe  you  are  right,  preacher.  It  is  just 
as  much  the  Master's  work  to  help  them  do  jus- 
tice to  their  families  and  live  industrious  lives 
as  it  is  to  j)i'each  and  pray.  And  I  want  to 
show  the  women  up  in  the  cove  how  they  can 
work." 

During  the  month  of  xiugnist  Valley  Manse 
presented  a  busy  scene.  The  fruit  season  had 
been  unusually  plentiful,  and  Marthy,  at  the 
suggestion  of  Miss  Greyson,  had  been  putting 
up  some  of  the  magnificent  Indian  peaches  from 
Peach  Cove. 

Miss  Greyson  thought  that  the  fiTiit  was  so 
fine  that  if  it  was  carefully  put  up.  there  might 
be  found  a  market  for  it.  Marthv,  who  was  al- 
ways  on  a  look-out  for  some  way  to  make  money 


242  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

for  the  churcli  thej  were  going  to  build,  had  her 
enthusiasm  fired  at  once. 

Reuben  smiled  at  her  eagerness,  but  too  good- 
naturedlv  to  dishearten  her. 

€,■■ 

"The  chief  good  that  I  see  from  you  doing 
this,  Marthv,  is  that  it  will  be  a  lesson  to  the 
cove  people  who  let  bushels  of  splendid  peaches 
rot  every  season  because  tliej  do  not  know  what 
to  do  with  them.  If  you  can  onlv  arouse  their 
interest  and  ambition  about  anvthino;  you  will 
have  done  a  2:reat  work,  even  if  you  don't  fill 
your  church  coffer.'' 

Occasionally  the  quiet  of  the  sleepy  little  ham- 
let was  broken  by  the  arrival  of  a  mica  buyer, 
maybe  several  of  them ;  and  about  the  middle  of 
the  month  Eeuben  received  a  letter  from  his 
friend  Lesley  Conway,  written  at  the  request  of 
a  party  that  was  in  search  of  new  fishing  resorts. 
Could  he  recommend  any  stream  over  his  way  ? 
Wliat  route  was  best,  and  so  on. 

Reuben,  who  was  always  on  the  alert  for  pos- 
sible friends  for  his  work,  was  glad  to  reply  by 
the  return  mail,  giving  information  and  telling 
in  glowing  terms  of  the  fine  trout  to  be  found  in 
Little  Peach  Creek. 

"But  you  will  find  no  ^inns',  nor  ^tourists' 
hotels.'  Advise  them  to  bring  their  tents  and 
cooks,  and  to  enjoy  the  delights  of  camp  life. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preaclier.  243 

There  can  be  no  finer  climate  tlian  this,  and  we 
are  snre  they  will  be  rewarded  for  coming." 

After  the  letter  w^as  posted,  the  matter  passed 
ont  of  their  minds.  There  was  a  good  deal  of 
sickness  np  in  Peach  Cove.  Marthy  had  spent 
parts  of  several  days  going  around  in  Reuben's 
place  with  one  of  her  neighbors  cleaning  up 
and  bathing  in  homes  where  such  things  were 
almost  unknown,  teaching  mothers  how  to  cook 
palatable  food  for  the  sick,  and  trying  at  the 
same  timv.  to  speak  a  word  for  the  Master,  and 
meeting  everywhere  with  hearty  greetings  from 
people  who  had  learned  to  look  on  both  Keuben 
and  herself  as  little  lower  than  angels. 

Late  one  afternoon  in  the  first  week  of  Sep- 
tember, Marthy  w^as  resting  after  a  day's  w^ork 
of  cleaning  up,  prej)aratory  to  Miss  Fields'  usual 
fortniHitlv  visit. 

She  had  brought  a  rocker  to  the  porch,  and 
sat  there  reading,  making,  all  unconsciously,  a 
very  attractive  picture  amid  her  flowers.  She 
was  still  the  bri2:ht-eved,  rosv-cheeked,  trim 
Marthy  of  her  early  married  life,  for  these  are 
qualities  that  grow  with  the  growth  of  happi- 
ness and  become  an  essential  part  of  a  true 
woman's  being. 

In  her  hands  Marthy  had  a  magazine,  which 
she  was  reading  so  intently  that  she  did  not 


244  Ueuhen  Delion,  Preacher. 

hear  the  approacli  of  any  one  until  the  lifting  ^ 

of  the  gate  latch  caught  her  ear.  ^^ 

A  stranger  tonched  his  hat  politely.  ': 

"Is  this  Preacher  Delton's  ?"  he  asked^  with 
a  pleasant  smile  and  in  a  way  that  made  Marthy  ^ 

feel  he  was  thinking  quotation  marks.  | 

"Yes,"  she  answered,  rising  from  her  seat. 
"Won't  you  come  in  ?'' 

"Is  this  Mrs.  Delton?"  he  asked,  coming  to- 
wards   the    porch    with  his  hat  in  hand  and  ' 
therehy  displaying  a  very  shapely  head. 

"Yes,"  again  said  Marthy,  with  a  pretty  touch 
of  pride  in  her  manner. 

"My  name,"  said  the  stranger,  "is  Seymore, 
Peyton  Seymore.  I  belong  to  the  fishing  party 
of  whom  Mr.  Conway  wrote  Mr.  Delton.  I  have 
come,  somewhat  in  advance  of  the  party,  to  see 
your  husband  and  to  get  his  advice  about  a  camp. 
Is  he  at  home  ?" 

"He  is  out  on  the  farm,  but  I  can  call  him 
in,"  replied  Marthy,  offering  a  chair  to  the  visi- 
tor. 

"Let  me  get  you  a  glass  of  fresh  water,"  she 
added,  with  the  wonted  mountain  hospitality. 
He  bowed  his  thanks,  glancing  down  at  the  mag- 
azine that  lay  open  beside  her  chair.  He  was 
surprised  to  find  that  it  was  the  Review  of  Re- 
vieios. 


Eeuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  245 

Around  him  was  a  wealth  of  flowers — nastur- 
tiums, pansies,  and  asters,  and  above  them  was 
poised  a  humming  bird  taking  its  supper  with 
that  tremulous  grace  that  is  so  wonderful. 
Everything  bespoke  peace  and  comfort,  and 
there  was  an  air  of  refinement  about  the  house 
and  its  mistress. 

^^N^ow/'  said  Marthy,  as  she  handed  the  water, 
^^if  you  will  excuse  me,  I  will  call  Mr.  Del- 
ton.'' 

^^Could  not  I  find  him  ?  I  do  not  like  to  put 
you  to  so  much  trouble,"  replied  Mr.  Seymore, 
as  deferentially  as  if  he  had  been  addressing  a 
city  belle. 

^^Oh !  ves,  vou  could  find  him,  but  it  is  not 
necessary.  I  will  just  call  him  up  from  the 
barn-yard,"  she  said  with  a  laugh. 

She  disappeared,  and  he  heard  her  pass 
through  the  house.  In  a  few  moments  there 
rang  out  on  the  stillness  of  the  afternoon  air  in 
clear  sweet  tones  a  call  that  delighted  the  music- 
loving  ear  of  Peyton  Seymore.  He  sat  charmed 
for  a  moment  by  a  voice  as  rich  as  any  he  had 
ever  heard,  then,  impelled  by  his  curiosity,  he 
sprang  to  his  feet  and  ran  out  into  the  yard  and 
around  the  comer  of  the  house  nearest  the  barn, 
where  Mrs.  Delton  had  said  she  was  going.  His 
search  was  rewarded,  for,  standing  on  the  top 


246  Beuhen  Delton,  Preacher. 

step  of  the  stile  between  the  barn-yarcl  and  t^ie 

field,  stood  lEarthy,  her  eves  shielded  from  the 

glare  of  the  snn  by  one  hand  and  she  singing  a 

strain  like  this : 

"  Oreola !   oreola  !   oreola,  Oh — la. ! 
Oreola,  oreola,  oreola,  oh — ee!" 

She  had  paused  between  the  two  strains,  and 
now  she  stood  with  her  head  bent  in  a  channing 
pose  of  attention.  In  another  moment  came  the 
response  in  a  mellow  tone : 

"Oreola,   oreola,   oreola,  oh — ah!" 

Then  Mar  thy  sprang  lightly  down  and  hurried 
back  to  the  house.  She  lausiied  when  she  found 
her  guest  standing  in  the  yard,  and  said,  '^I 
should  have  j^repared  you  for  my  'phone.  You 
see  that  it  is  wireless !" 

^^It  served  its  j)urpose,  I  noted,  and  surely  one 
does  not  hear  such  musical  'phones  often  !" 

"My  husband  and  myself  are  often  situated 
just  as  now,"  Marthy  replied,  simply,  '^^and  w^e 
find  it  necessary  to  have  some  way  of  communi- 
cating." 

In  a  few  moments  Reuben's  step  was  heard 
in  the  yard,  and  the  sound  of  little  Greyson'a 
merry  chatter. 

By  the  repetition  and  the  last  line  ending  in 
E,  he  had  understood  that  he  was  wanted  by  a 
stranger  at  once. 


Beuben  Delton,  Preacher.  247 


ii^ 


'Why,  I  am  sure  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meet- 
ing yoii  last  summer  at  Farmville !"  exclaimed 
Heuben,  shakino;  hands  cordially  with  Peyton 
Seymore. 

"Yes;  I  was  there.  I  haye  been  at  Blowing 
Rock  this  Slimmer,  and  belong  to  the  fishing 
party  of  which  Mr.  Conway  wrote  yon." 

In  a  little  while  he  made  known  his  errand. 
The  party,  consisting  of  six,  wanted  information 
as  to  the  best  places  to  fish;  also,  if  they  might 
make  their  headquarters  near  the  manse,  and 
lastly,  and  by  no  means  the  least  important  re- 
quest was,  if  ^Irs.  Delton  would  furnish  them 
with  bread  and  with  milk. 

While  the  two  men  discussed  the  placing  of 
the  camp  and  other  matters  concerning  the  fish- 
ing, llarthy  took  time  to  obserye  their  gaiest,  and 
perhaps  the  elegant  and  accomplished  Mr.  Sey- 
more would  haye  been  surprised  to  know  that, 
in  her  estimation,  he  suffered  by  comparison 
with  her  husband ! 

Reuben,  still  in  his  shirt  sleeves  and  blue  over- 
alls, his  face  flushed  with  health  and  toil,  his 
brown  hair  clinging  in  moist  rings  about  his 
fine  white  brow,  his  grey  eyes  bright  with  intel- 
ligence and  habitual  kindliness,  and  the  smile 
that  continually  played  about  his  mouth,  spoke 
unmistakably  of  happiness  and  peace  within. 


248  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

Peyton  Sejanore,  in  liis  stylish  knickerbock- 
ers, with  his  pale  and  aristocratic  features,  his 
fine  brown  eves,  and  his  handsome  month 
marred  by  its  cynical  expression,  and  where  the 
smiles  did  not  seem  entirely  at  home  to  Marthy's 
searching  eye,  gave  evidence  of  not  having  at- 
tained to  that  condition  which  she  knew  that 
Kenben  enjoyed. 

"Marthy,  I  have  answered  my  part  of  Mr. 
Seymore's  questions ;  now  what  have  you  to 
say  V 

Mr.  Seymore  turned  smilingly  to  Marthy  and 
said,  ^^If  your  bread  is  as  fine  as  the  ^^odel  you 
called  3'our  husband  with,  we  will  esteem  our- 
selves fortunate  men,  Mrs.  Delton.'' 

Marthy  laughed. 

"Oh !  you  must  not  expect  much  of  a  woman 

just  because  she  can  sing ;  besides,  Mr.  Seymore, 

"I  pipe  just  as  the  robins  do, 
And  sing  because  I  must." 

Peyton  Sevmore  stared  at  the  little  mountain 
Avoman  who  quoted  Tennyson  so  prettily.  He 
had  not  been  so  interested  in  anv  man  or  woman 
in  a  long  while  as  he  found  himself  beginning  to 
be  in  the  Deltons. 

"But  T  am  not  talking  business,''  added 
Marthy,  quickly.  "As  to  making  the  bread,  I 
can  make  light  bread  for  you  twice  a  week.    Will 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  249 

tliat  do  ?    Or  did  you  mean  that  jou  would  like 
fresh  bread  every  day  ?" 

"As  your  famous  Governor  Vance  said  on 
one  occasion^  I  think  I  will  take  a  little  of 
both/'  he  answered  with  a  droll  expression  that 
conveyed  the  impression  that  he  was  very  dubi- 
ous about  the  cuisine  of  the  camp. 

"Well,  I  will  help  you  all  I  can/'  said  Marthy, 
pleasantly. 

"I  will  put  on  my  coat  and  go  with  you  if  you 
will  excuse  me  a  moment/'  said  Reuben.  He 
was  in  favor  of  their  camping  at  the  ford,  and 
was  anxious  to  j)resent  the  arguments,  if  neces- 
sary, before  they  came  any  nearer  the  manse. 
He  knew  nothing  of  these  men,  and  remembered 
some  experiences  over  in  Wautauga  when 
Marthy  had  been  very  much  annoyed. 

Fortunately,  they  had  stopped  at  the  ford  as 
it  had  been  su2:.2:ested  to  them  in  Mineville,  and 
Reuben  found  them  just  discussing  the  proper 
placing  of  the  tents  when  he  drew  near. 

Among  the  gentlmen  was  one  whose  face  he 
recognized  at  once. 

"Major  Burnby,"  said  Seymore,  introducing 
Reuben. 

"Oh !  I  recognize  Mr.  Helton,  though  he  may 
not  recall  my  face.  I  was  present  last  summer 
when  you  told  the  story  of  the  converted  out- 


250  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

laWj  and  it  made  quite  an  impression  on  me, 
sir — quite  an  impression !     Does  lie  hold  out  ?" 

The  question  Avas  asked  in  a  jocular  tone,  and 
Reuben  noticed  also  a  shade  of  contempt  on  the 
face  of  Pevton  Sevmore  as  he  turned  to  intro- 
duce  the  rest  of  the  party. 

After  shaking  hands  cordially  all  round, 
Reuben  turned  back  to  Major  Burnby  and  said, 
"I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  give  a  good  account  of 
my  friend  Dan  Ruger.  I  have  in  my  pocket  a 
letter  I  received  from  him.  vesterdav,  of  which 
I  think  I  am  justly  proud,  not  for  my  own  sake, 
but  for  his.  He  is  not  only  a  changed  man 
morallv,  but  there  has  come  an  intellectual 
awakenins;  that  is  trulv  remarkable.  I  would 
like,"  continued  Reuben,  raising  his  voice  so 
as  to  arrest  the  attention  of  all  the  party — ^^I 
would  like  to  lav  before  vou  this  letter,  and  the 
first  that  I  received  from  him,  and  let  you  see 
for  vourselves  the  difference." 

"To  what  do  you  attribute  this  intellectual 
change  ?"  asked  some  one,  and  Reuben  reiuarked 
the  expression  of  amusement  and  derision  in 
Sejmiore's  eyes. 

"Perhaps  I  would  best  call  it  the  reward  of 
virtue,"  answered  Reuben,  fixing  his  eyes  fear- 
lesslv  on  Pevton  Sevmore.     "I  believe  in  the  di- 

tj  t.'  t' 

vine  law   of    compensation,   gentlemen.      This 


Reuben  Deltoiij  Preacher.  251 

poor  fellow,  with  an  entire  lack  of  those  en- 
vironments whicli  influence  most  of  ns  to  be 
Christians  and  gentlemen,  grew  up  in  ignorance 
and  vice.  He  had  barely  learned  to  read,  but  it 
did  not  help  him,  for  he  had  no  books  to  read. 
By  what  yon  may  call  accident,  but  ^\^hat  I  call 
a  providential  interference,  he  is  brought  to  be- 
lieve in  Christ,  to  repent  of  his  sins,  to  an  hon- 
orable surrender  of  himself  to  the  law  for  past 
offences,  and  now,  in  what  most  people  would 
call  the  hour  of  his  darkest  disgrace,  God  is  giv- 
ing him  time  to  think,  opportunity  to  study,  and 
has  awakened  in  him  a  desire  for  knowledge. 

"If,  as  I  pray  and  confidently  believe,  the 
governor  will  pardon  him,  he  will  come  out  of 
jail  a  useful  citizen  as  well  as  a  Christian 
man." 

What  was  it  that  gave  to  this  young  moun- 
taineer clad  in  jeans  a  certain  power  over  his 
hearers  that  was  felt,  even  if  it  was  not  always 
openly  acknowledged  ?  Major  Eurnby  spoke  of  it 
after  Eeuben  left  them,  and  asked  if  anybody 
could  explain  it. 

"Personal  magnetism  !"  called  out  one.  "The 
power  of  the  unexpected,''  suggested  another. 

"I'll  tell  you  what  I  believe  it  is,"  said  the  pro- 
fessor, who  had  been  absorbed  in  getting  the 
tents  stretched.     "The  fellow  has  strong  convic- 


252  Reuben  Deltoii,  Preacher. 

tionSj  and  lie  lives  up  to  them.  I  never  remem- 
ber to  have  seen  any  man  who  believed  any- 
thing very  positively  who  did  not  influence 
others  by  the  very  sincerity  of  his  purpose." 

'^That  is  so/'  answered  Major  Burnby  thought- 
fully.  ^ 

While  the  fishing  party  were  discussing 
Iteuben  Delton  and  his  power,  Reuben  had  re- 
turned to  the  manse,  and  was  making  merry 
over  Marthy's  excitement  at  the  prospect  of  in- 
creasing her  church  building  fund. 

She  was  untiring  in  her  efforts,  and  met  with 
the  usual  reward  of  such  brave  spirits.  She  had 
put  away  about  fifty  dollars,  the  earnings  of  her- 
self and  a  few  others,  and  Miss  Greyson  and 
Miss  Boutelle  had  cheered  her  by  the  promise  of 
at  least  one  hundred  more  by  October,  and  she 
was  beginning  to  dream  of  plans,  and  even  of 
furnishings. 

^^Reub,  I  think  it  would  be  nice  for  me  to  send 
a  pat  of  butter  when  I  send  over  the  milk  and 
bread  tomoiiow  morning,  don't  you?" 

Reuben    02>ened,  his    eyes    w^ide,    and    said 
"What !  give  it  to  them  ?    Why,  little  woman,  I 
never  dreamed  you  would  be  so  generous !" 

"Oh !  what  a  goose  you  are,  preacher.  Don't 
you  see  that  if  they  once  get  a  taste  of  my  butter, 
they  will  want  it  all  the  time  ?" 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  25 


Q 


^^Oh !  you  wily  little  woman.  I  did  not  give 
yon  credit  for  being  so  artful." 

Martliy  fell  asleep  with  a  happy  smile  on  her 
face  and  with  visions  of  the  little  church  of 
which  she  had  alreadv  drawn  more  than  one 
plan. 

Reuben  took  over  the  basket  himself  the  next 
morning,  and  was  met  with  a  welcome^  all  the 
more  cordial  when  the  beautiful  rolls  and  rich 
milk  and  butter  were  lifted  out,  and  a  pitcher 
filled  with  some  of  Marthy's  handsomest  flow- 
ers beside. 

^^Will  you  not  breakfast  with  us?"  Reuben 
was  asked. 

"Thank  you,  but  I  breakfasted  two  hours  ago. 
TTe  mountain  people  love  early  hours,  you 
know.  I  am  going  up  to  see  some  of  my  people 
in  Little  Peach  Greek  Cove,  and  I  thought  if 
you  gentlemen  had  no  plan  for  to-day,  you 
might  go  with  me  and  explore  the  cove.  The 
fishing  is  fine  at  two  or  three  points.  You  can 
go  up  to  McGutchen's  with  me,  and  will  get 
a  warm  welcome  that  will  season  the  plain  fare, 
or  you  can  stop  about  three  miles  up  and  come 
back  to  camp  for  your  dinner." 

"Camp  Idlewiki,  it  is,  Mr.  Delton  ?"  Reuben 
bowed  and  complimented  the  name. 

The    party  was  in  for    anything  new,   and 


254  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

gladly  accepted  the  invitation  to  go  a  part  of 
the  way  with  Reuben. 

"Jnst  ride  on,  Mr.  Delton,  and  we  will  catch 
lip  in  tJie  course  of  a  half  hour  if  that  will  suit 
you  ?" 

"All  right.  I  have  to  stop  at  the  first  farm 
house  on  the  other  side  of  the  creek,  and  will 
wait  there  for  you." 

"Even  if  we  do  not  catch  many  fish  we  will 
enjoy  the  tramp  and  this  interesting  psycologi- 
cal  study  that  we  have  stumbled  on/'  said  the 
professor,  pointing  to  Reuben  Delton,  who  was 
still  in  sight  on  the  other  side  of  the  stream. 

"That's  certainly  so  about  the  young  preach- 
er," said  one,  and  they  all  agreed  that  the  invi- 
tation was  just  what  they  wanted. 

When  they  neared  the  farmhouse,  the  sound 
of  singing  in  a  clear,  strong  tenor  voice  caused 
them  to  halt  before  inquiring  for  Delton. 

Peyton  Seymore  guessed  at  once  that  it  was 
Reuben's  voice. 

"Do  you  suppose  he  is  having  some  kind  of 
religious  service?"  he  asked. 

"Well,  maybe  so,  but  we  were  not  asked,  and 
I  think  we  will  not  go  in,"  replied  Major 
Burnby,  who  was  more  intent  on  fishing  than 
religious  services. 

They  moved  nearer  to  the  gate  to  hear  the 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  255 

singing,  which  was  really  very  good,  and  in  do- 
ing so  attracted  the  attention  of  some  one  in  the 
house,  and  soon  all  the  family  but  the  sick  man 
and  Reuben  were  at  the  door  to  see  the  very  un- 
usual si2:ht  of  ^^summer  boarders"  in  Little 
Peach  Creek  Cove. 

The  singing  ceased  and  Reuben  appeared. 

^^Whv,  here  vou  are,  gentlemen !  You  must 
be  good  walkers.  Mr.  Mackey,  these  are  the 
fishermen  I  told  vou  about." 

^^Won't  you-uns  come  in  an'  rest  yer  hats  a 
while  ?     I  kin  give  you  some  plumb  good  milk 

an'  fust-rate  peaches,  ef  w'at  ther  preacher  says 

*         ?> 
IS  so. 

Old  man  Mackey  came  do^^m  the  steps  and 
opened  the  gate  cordially  as  he  spoke,  but  the 
fishermen  had  so  recently  breakfasted,  and  were 
so  eager  to  go  forward,  they  begged  off  and 
promised  to  come  back. 

After  they  had  started  off  the  professor  said, 

^^Why,  Mr.  Delton,  you  ought  to  give  up 
preaching  and  take  to  singing  to  make  your  liv- 
ing !  That  voice  of  yours  would  be  worth  a  small 
fortune  to  vou  in  the  cities." 

^^Oh !  my  wife  ought  to  hear  that,"  said 
Reuben,  with  a  hearty  laugh.  "She  is  a  crank 
just  now  on  the  subject  of  a  church  we  want  to 
build,  and  would  ship  me  to  ^ew  York  at  once 


256'  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

if  she  thoiiglit  there  was  any  prospect  of  my  be- 
ing so  profitable."  Then  he  adcledj  with  a  shade 
of  gravity  on  his  bright  face,  ^^^o  applause  of 
large  audiences  could  compensate  me  as  the  look 
of  relief  and  peace  that  I  have  watched  stealing 
into  the  face  of  the  poor  young  fellow  in  there. 
He  has  some  form  of  hip  disease,  and  suffers  in- 
tensely at  times.  I  found  out  that  he  loves 
music,  and  I  almost  always  stop  and  sing  for 
him.  My  wife  and  I  love  to  come  together 
when  we  can,  and  it  is  astonishing  how  quickly 
our  singing  seems  to  soothe  him.'' 

About  two  miles  beyond  Mackey's  they  came 
to  the  first  place  that  Reuben  had  recommended 
to  the  fishermen,  and  he  stopped,  gave  them  a 
few  directions,  and  then  mounted  his  mule, 
which  he  had  led  thus  far  from  Mackev's. 

^^What  an  egregious  mistake  for  a  man  like 
that  to  waste  his  life  in  a  thankless  job  like  this 
in  these  little  mountain  coves !"  exclaimed  Pey- 
ton Seymore,  as  Keuben  rode  out  of  sight  up  the 
rough  mountain  road. 

"He  has  certainly  very  attractive  manners, 
and  uses  remarkably  good  English,  too,  as  I 
noted  last  summer,"  said  the  professor.  "He 
gives  one  the  impression  of  unusual  mental 
power !" 

^Yes,  indeed,  and  he  seems  well  posted  too  on 


cr 


Reuben. Delton,  Preacher 


257 


the  events  of  the  day,  a  very  companionable 
man,  sir— very  !  Pity  he  should  share  that  mis- 
taken notion  of  so  manv  of  these  relio-ious 
cranks,  and  feel  called  npon  to  arrest  the  de- 
velopment of  his  o^\ai  powers  in  order  to  en- 
lighten a  few  of  these  dolts  who  might  just  as 
well  live  out  their  stupid  lives  as  the  genera- 
tions before  them  have  done  !" 

This  remark  was  made  bv  Fred  Linton,  a 
young  man  who  was  cultivating  cynicism  along 
with  other  isms  at  one  of  the  "intellectual  cen- 
tres" of  the  country. 

"You  seem  to  forget,"  said  Dr.  IN^eilson,  ad- 
dressing the  party,  "that  Mr.  Delton  himself  is 
one  of  ^these  dolts.'  He  tells  me  he  is  a  moun- 
tain man,  born  and  reared  over  near  Blowing 
Rock,  and  had  never  been  bevond  the  mountains 
until  he  went  to  the  Seminarv.  And  he  cer- 
tainly  is  not  only  a  fine  specimen  of  manhood, 
but  a  very  strong  argument  in  favor  of  develop- 
ing the  intellectual  powers  of  a  portion  of  our 
country  that  has  given  us  such  men  as  Cyrus 
B.  llcCormick,  Zebulon  Yance,  Stonewall  Jack- 
son, and  a  host  of  other  distinguished  men." 

"But  those  men  were  exceptions,  doctor." 

"True,  but  how  are  you  going  to  find  the  ex- 
ceptions ?  There  must  be  help  given  to  all. 
More's  the  pity  that  it  has  not  been  given  be- 


258 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


fore !  I  heard  an  intelligent  Christian  worker 
say  that  from  one  of  his  mountain  schools  had 
gone  out  three  fellows^  apparently  ordinary 
mountain  boys,  who  were  not  only  ffood  Latin 
scholars  when  they  left  him,  but  who  within  a 
year  afterwards  were  earning  good  salaries  as 
stenographers,  ^o,  no,  Seymore,  all  mountain- 
eers are  not  dolts,  and  there  are  no  nobler  men  on 
God's  earth  to-day  than  the  men,  like  Delton,  of 
bright  parts,  who  are  trying  to  uplift  those  Svho 
have  been  reduced  to  their  present  condition  of 
poverty  and  ignorance  by  the  strenuous  condi- 
tions under  which  they  have  been  compelled  to 
1 


?   7> 


ive 

^'^This  is  an  interesting  subject,"  remarked 
Major  Burnby,  just  here,  ^^but  we  cannot  talk 
and  fish  too.  I  move  that  this  meeting  be  ad- 
journed until  we  get  back  to  camp.'' 

The  motion  was  carried,  and  the  fishermen 
gave  themselves  up  to  the  delightful  pursuit  of 
speckled  trout.  Wishing  them  all  success,  let  us 
return  to  the  manse. 

It  was  the  afternoon  for  Miss  Fields'  regular 
fortnight  visit,  and  Marthy  always  enjoyed  pre- 
paring for  her. 

There  was  somethino;  in  Grace  Fields  that 
had  called  out  her  very  deepest  compassion,  but 
it  was  only  from  what  she  had  learned  inci- 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


259 


dentally,  for  tliere  never  was  a  more  reticent 
person  than  this  lonely  yonng  woman  who  had 
so  much  need  for  sympathy.  And  poor  Marthy, 
who  had  bv  no  means  entirely  ontoTo^vn  her 
childish  inclination  to  know^  the  reasons  of 
thingSj  was  often  sorely  tried  by  this  reti- 
cence. 

She  knew  that  Miss  Fields  had  been  raised  in 
a  city  in  a  neighboring  State ;  that  her  parents 
were  dead ;  that  something  had  happened  in  her 
past  life  to  embitter  and  change  its  whole  tenor, 
but  there  all  knowledge  of  Miss  Fields'  story 
stopped  off,  as  Marthy  told  Reuben,  "as  ab- 
ruptly as  Short  Off  Mountain." 

^¥hat  ?  Why  ?  Where  ?  Who  ?  these  questions 
often  assaulted  Marthy,  and  as  she  had  learned 
not  to  ask  questions,  she  suffered  the  more. 

Miss  Fields  had  decided  to  keep  the  school 
for  another  year,  though  six  months  before  she 
would  have  been  amazed  if  anybody  had  sug- 
gested such  a  thing. 

Strange  as  it  may  seem  to  any  one  whose  heart 
is  not  in  sympathy  with  the  unrest  of  this  young 
woman's  soul  and  mind,  she  was  beginning,  un- 
der the  influence  of  wholesome  work,  and  the 
equally  strong  influence  of  genuine  religious  en- 
thusiasm as  exhibited  in  the  Deltons,  to  see  pos- 
sibilities of  peace  and  of  happiness  in  life  of 


260 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


wliicli  she  had  never  dreamed  before,  and  uncon- 
sciously she  was  developing  strength  that  she 
had  not  seemed  to  possess  even  in  embryo  when 
she  first  came. 

As  Marthy  drove  her  up  to  the  gate  at  the 
manse,  she  looked  around  her  and  gave  a  deep 
inhalation  that  expressed  her  intense  satisfac- 
tion at  being  at  the  ^^House  of  Rest"  once  more. 

^^I  shall  not  go  in-doors  until  the  night  air 
forces  me  in !"  she  exclaimed,  as  she  looked 
about  her  on  the  beautv  that  clothed  the  scene 
as  a  garment.  The  yard  was  ablaze  with 
dahlias,  asters,  nasturtiums  and  pansies,  flowers 
that  adorn  the  countrv  well  at  this  time,  scarcelv 
more  than  memories  of  summer  gone. 

"Don't  you  want  any  hot  rolls  or  cream  cheese 
then  ?"  asked  Marthv  in  a  tone  of  much  horror. 
She  was  always  so  pleased  with  Miss  Fields' 
keen  enjopnent  of  her  home. 

"Oh ! — yes,  that's  a  fact.  I  can't  afford  to 
give  up  your  rolls  and  cream  cheese  even  for 
this."  She  spread  her  arms  out  as  if  she  would 
fain  embrace  the  whole  landscape. 

"But  I  shall  eat  just  as  I  do  at  the  railway 
stations  when  thev  call  out,  ^twentv  minutes  for 
supper !'  " 

"TTell,  you  will  have  some  time  to  enjoy  it 
yet,  for  we  will  wait  for  Reub,  and  I  must  go 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


261 


now  and  prepare  tlie  biscuits  and  milk  I  am  to 
send  to  the  fishing  party.'' 

Grace  Fields  seated  herself  in  a  low  rocker, 
and,  taking  off  her  hat  and  throwing  her  arms 
np  behind  her  head  in  a  favorite  pose,  prepared 
to  feast  on  the  sunlit  beauty  spread  out  before 
her.  She  had  never  known  until  she  came  to 
this  beautiful  region  the  strength  of  her  sensu- 
ous nature — had  never  before  lived  near  enough 
to  JSTature's  heart  to  hear  its  throbs  and  to  feel 
its  soothing  influence. 

She  began  her  life  here  by  being  amused  and 
diverted  by  the  people  she  met,  then  when  she 
began  to  study  them  closer,  she  found  a  sturdy 
worth  in  some,  quick  mental  capacity  in  many, 
and  everything  to  look  up  to  and  admire  in  the 
Deltons. 

There  was  a  power  ruling  in  their  lives  which 
she  had  never  felt — something  that  made  life 
worth  living  right  here  in  this  mountain  valley. 
What  was  it  ?  That  question  haunted  her  until 
she  discovered  that  the  key  to  all  w^as,  the  con- 
straining power  of  love — love  to  God  and  love 
to  others.  And  from  that  day  she  sought  to  re- 
model her  own  life. 

^^If  I  could  always  live  near  them,  maybe  I 
would  grow  like  them,"  she  thought.  She  did 
not  yet  understand  that  she  needed  to  make  the 


•i 


262  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

same  surrender  tliat  tliey  had  made.  But  surely 
she  took  a  step  in  the  right  direction  when  she 
began  to  feel  the  need  for  the  same  power. 

Just  one  thing  marred  her  pleasure  this  af- 
ternoon. It  was  the  thought  of  the  possibility 
of  meeting  the  fishing  party.  She  had  lived 
so  peacefuly,  so  independently  without  associa- 
tion with  men  from  the  outside  world,  she 
shrank  with  something  akin  to  timidity  from 
meeting  them. 

^^I  hope  the  fishers  will  not  invade  our  quiet, 
Mrs.  Delton  ?''  she  had  asked  when  Mar  thy  had 
told  of  their  arrival  and  camp  at  the  ford. 

Marthy  laughed  heartily,  and  replied,  ^'Why, 
they  will  not  hurt  us  if  they  do  come.  Reub 
says  they  are  very  clever  gentlmen,  and  the  one 
that  came  here  yesterday  afternoon  was  a  hand- 
some fellows" 

"That  is  the  very  kind  I  do  not  wish  to  meet," 
was  Miss  Fields'  ansAver,  and  then  she  adroitly 
changed  the  subject. 


CHAPTEK  VII. 

A  Fisher  of  Meist. 

A  MORE  beautiful  Sabbath  morning  never 
dawned  than  that  which  broke  in  all  Sep- 
tember's glory  the  next  day.  The  crispness  of 
early  autumn  air  was  tempered  by  the  simshine 
that  flooded  Peach  Creek  Valley. 

The  flower  beds  at  Valley  Manse  were  not  only 
arrayed  in  all  the  splendor  of  Solomon,  but  the 
air  was  redolent  with  the  spicy  perfume  of  nas- 
turtiums, pansies,  and  old-fashioned  pinks. 

Occasionally  the  note  of  a  thrush  or  of  a  cat- 
bird was  heard,  but  above  them  soared  the  voice 
of  Marthy  singing  at  her  w^ork  in  the  kitchen. 

Miss  Fields  was  waked  by  the  singing,  and 
sprang  up  and  dressed  quickly  with  a  feeling 
that  she  was  missing  something,  and  she  was 
right,  for  every  one  is  a  loser  who  misses  the 
charm  of  the  early  September  mornings  in  the 
mountains. 

By  ten  o'clock  they  were  off  for  preaching. 
Peuben  expected  to  hold  the  services  out  of 
doors,  as  the  weather  w^as  fine. 

Marthy  and  Miss  Fields,  with  little  Greyson, 


2G4  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

occupied  the  buggy,  and  Reuben  was  mounted 
on  Jobo. 

As  they  drove  near  the  camp,  the  scene  Avas 
quite  picturesque.  There  were  two  large  tents, 
and  the  wagon  with  the  horse  tethered  near. 
There  was  the  fire  where  the  breakfast  had  been 
prepared,  and  two  or  three  gentlemen  strolling 
around,  while  one  lay  smoking  in  his  hammock. 

Grace  Fields  glanced  carelessly  towards  them. 
She  felt  no  special  interest  in  them,  excepting 
for  the  financial  profit  that  was  to  accrue  to 
Marthy's  church  fund  by  their  presence  in  the 
neighborhood. 

Major  Burnby  called  out  a  courteous  ^^Good 
morning"  as  they  passed,  and  the  others  lifted 
their  hats. 

"Drive  on,  ^larthy,''  said  Reuben ;  "I  will 
catch  up  in  a  few  moments.  I  am  going  to  in- 
vite them  to  preaching. '^ 

He  checked  his  horse  and  said,  "Gentlemen, 
I  would  be  very  glad  to  have  you  come  to  our 
preaching  services  if  you  feel  inclined.  There 
will  be  a  spice  of  novelty  about  them  for  some  of 
you  i3robably." 

He  gave  the  invitation  simply  and  w^ithout 
any  apologetic  words.  He  knew  these  were  city 
men,  one  of  them  a  professor,  and  all  of  them 
men  of  education,  and  possibly  of  culture.     To 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  265 

fear  tlieir  criticism  never  occurred  to  Keubeii 
Delton,  for,  while  lie  was  snfficientlv  cultivated 
himself  to  appreciate  culture  in  others,  this  mat- 
ter of  delivering  a  message  to  men's  souls  was 
not  to  be  regarded  from  a  literary  standpoint. 
In  his  opinion,  it  was  lifted  on  a  plane  as  much 
higher  than  mere  literary  excellence,  as  the 
spirit  of  man  is  above  his  intellect. 

In  his  judgment,  for  one  to  spend  his  time 
criticising  the  literarv  stvle  of  the  man  who 
brings  him  a  message  of  life  and  death  import 
was  worse  than  follv,  and  vet  there  are  scores  of 
people  in  every  congregation,  many  of  them 
nominal  Christians,  who  indulge  in  this  folly 
habitually ! 

''We  were  just  discussing  the  matter  as  you 
drove  up,  Mr.  Delton,"  said  Major  Burnby,  who 
generally  acted  as  spokesman,  ''Dr.  [N^eilson  dis- 
covered your  notice  posted  on  the  elm  a  while  be- 
fore breakfast." 

"Some  of  us  will  certainlv  2:0,"  said  Dr.  ^eil- 
son,  and  Reuben,  smiling  his  reply  and  touching 
his  hat,  rode  away. 

Pevton  Sevmore  found  himself  really  inter- 
ested  in  this  mountain  missionary.  He  was 
conscious  that  Reuben  Delton  possessed  a 
strength  of  character  that  he  did  not  have.  He 
was  even  conscious  of  being  less  satisfied  with 


2GG  Eeuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

liis  own  intellectiTality,  aud  even  Lis  acquire- 
ments, in  the  man's  presence,  and  he  resolved 
to  gratify  the  curiosity  to  hear  him  preach. 

When  the  party  arrived  at  the  large  shed  or 
"arbor/'  as  it  was  called,  where  the  services  were 
to  be  held,  their  presence  created  quite  a  stir. 
Mineville  was  too  remote  as  yet  from  the  high- 
ways of  the  State  to  have  attracted  many  visi- 
tors, excepting  the  occasional  mica  buyers  and 
other  prospectors  for  minerals  who  appeared  at 
intervals,  and  it  was  therefore  quite  an  event  to 
have  a  party  of  "sure-enough  summer  boarders" 
in  their  midst. 

Services  had  not  yet  begun  when  they  drove 
up,  and  as  soon  as  he  saw  them  Reuben  beck- 
oned to  some  one  and  said,  "Give  those  men 
seats,  please.  They  are  strangers,  and  as  I  in- 
vited them,  I  want  them  to  be  comfortable." 

Upon  the  rostrum  or  stand  where  Reuben  sat 
there  was  a  small  table,  and  on  it  was  his  Bible 
and  hymn  book  and  a  large  pitcher  filled  with 
magnificent  asters  and  ferns. 

Marthy  led  the  singing,  playing  the  accom- 
paniments on  a  small  organ,  assisted  by  Miss 
Fields  and  several  other  yoimg  people. 

The  simple  hymns  were  well  selected  and  in- 
spiring, and  the  visitors  were  surprised  at  the 
spirited  singing. 


Reiiben  Belt  on,  Preacher.  267 

When  Eeuben  Delton  stood  up  and,  with  out- 
stretched arms,  said,  ^'Let  ns  pray,"  there  was 
no  one  there  who  rose  to  his  feet  more  promptly, 
nor  assumed  a  more  reverent  posture,  than  Pey- 
ton Seymore,  though  he  was  professedly  a 
skeptic  as  to  prayer. 

After  reading  and  expounding  a  chapter  in  a 
very  simple  yet  attractive  way,  another  hymn 
was  sung,  and  then  Eeuben  began  to  preach,  tak- 
ing as  his  text  2  Tim.  i.  12,  "For  I  know  in 
whom  I  have  believed.'' 

Pevton  Sevmore's  attention  was  all  the  more 
fixed  because  he  recalled  the  remark  of  the  pro- 
fessor, that  Reuben  was  "a  man  of  strong  con- 
victions."  It  was  so  it  seemed,  and  now  there 
was  an  opportunity  to  hear  him  define  them. 

Reuben's  language,  while  perfectly  correct, 
was  absolutely  simple ;  his  audience  was  com- 
posed chiefly  of  uneducated  and  ignorant  men 
and  women.  The  presence  of  these  educated 
men  never  made  him  swerve  for  one  moment 
from  his  purpose  to  speak  so  that  every  one  there 
might  understand  hiiu. 

We  cannot  reproduce  his  whole  sermon,  nor 
can  we  convey  to  the  reader  the  force  of  his 
earnestness.  It  flashed  in  his  fine  grey  eyes,  it 
thrilled  in  the  tones  of  his  noble  voice,  and  spoke 
in  every  gesture. 


2G8 


Eeiihen  Delton,  Preacher. 


He  began  with  an  illustration  something  like 
this:  ^^If  YOU  were  ffoiria;  awav,  and  wanted  to 
leave  vour  wife  and  children  in  the  care  of  some 
one,  YOU  would  want  to  know  him.  If  you  had 
not  known  him  all  Your  life,  you  would  take  the 
trouble  to  inquire  of  eYerybody  all  about  him. 
His  life,  his  work,  his  disposition — everything 
concerning  him.  Is  he  kind  ?  is  he  sensible  ?  is 
he  willing  to  help  others  ?  All  these  questions 
YOU  would  do  well  to  ask.  Then  if  you  tried 
him  and  found  that  he  was  alwavs  kind  and 
wise  and  willing  to  help  you,  you  would  say 
what  this  man  Paul,  whose  words  I  have  just 
repeated,  said,  'I  know  in  whom  I  have  be- 
lieved.' 

"There  are  so  many  people  that  profess  to  be 
Christians,  yet  are  not  certain  about  their  Savior 
or  themselves.  They  do  not  know  in  whom  they 
have  believed ;  they  are  not  persuaded,  or  sure, 
that  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  they  have  com- 
mitted to  him.  They  spend  more  time  in  watch- 
ing the  people  around  them  to  see  how  many 
wrong  things  they  do  than  they  spend  in  learn- 
ing more  about  the  Redeemer  that  died  for 
them. 

"^ow,  mavbe  you  sav,  ^Yes,  but  God  is  not 
here.  I  never  have  seen  him.  I  don't  know 
for  certain  that  he  likes  me  well  enough  to  save 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  269 

me.  How  can  I  know  him  ?  Some  people  say 
it  is  foolish  to  believe  in  a  person  you  have  never 
seen.' 

''Yes,  I  know  there  are  people  who  talk  that 
wav.  Sometimes  I  can  feel  sorrv  for  them,  but 
most  of  the  time  I  have  not  patience  enough 
with  them  to  be  sorry,  for,  oh !  my  friends, 
they  are  acting  as  if  it  did  not  matter  very  much 
one  way  or  another  what  they  believe ;  and  yet 
it  is  not  a  little  thing  not  to  believe  in  God.  It 
means  either  heaven  or  hell  hereafter !  And 
even  in  this  world  it  means  peace  and  happi- 
ness and  safety,  for  God  has  promised  to  take 
care  of  those  who  trust  in  him,  and  he  does  it, 
too !     Thank  God  some  of  us  know  that." 

There  was  a  flash  of  triumph  in  Reuben  Del- 
ton's  eye  that  was  a  powerful  argument  in  it- 
self. 

"But  some  of  vou  will  sav,  'How  am  I  to 
know  God  so  that  I  mav  believe  in  him  V  Read 
the  Bible;  that  is  God's  letter  he  has  written  for 
us.  He  meant  us  to  search  there  for  all  he 
promises  to  do  for  us,  and  all  that  he  w^ants  us 
to  do. 

"You  have  never  seen  the  governor,  but  if 
you  were  in  jail  and  I  should  bring  you  a  letter 
pardoning  you,  would  you  say,  'I  never  saw  the 
governor.     I  don't  know  whether  he  wrote  it  or 


270  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

not  V  ISTo ;  you  would  see  the  governor's  stamp 
and  seal  on  it,  and  you  would  believe  and  come 
out  of  that  jail. 

^'But  God  did  more  to  prove  his  love  to  you 
than  giving  his  Bible.  He  gave  you  a  Savior, 
his  onlv  Son,  who  came  to  suffer  shame  and 
death  on  the  cross  for  your  sins,  and  in  your 
place.  Did  you  ever  see  a  man  you  would  die 
for  ?  'Not  just  die  in  an  open  fight,  but  die  a 
disgraceful  death  for  ?  Xo ;  you  would  not  do 
that  for  the  best  man  you  ever  knew,  but  Jesus 
Christ  did  that  for  sinners ;  and,  oh !  my  friends, 
God  was  willing !  God  was  willing  !  That  is  the 
most  wonderful  thing  that  you  ever  heard.  You, 
sinning  against  him,  unbelieving,  ungrateful, 
breaking  all  his  laws,  and  worthy  to  suffer  the 
full  penalty  the  law  demands,  and  God  willing 
to  save  YOU !  'For  God  so  loved  the  world  that 
he  o'ave  his  onlv  be2:otten  Son,  that  whosoever 
believeth  on  him  should  not  perish,  but  have 
everlasting  life !' 

^'Oh  1  don't  you  see  that  Paul,  who  had  been 
such  a  sinner,  and  who  had  found  such  a  Savior, 
could  say,  '1  know  in  whom  I  have  believed'  ? 
Life  is  short.  We  mav  some  of  us  be  dead 
before  another  Sundav,  but  if  we  can  sav  with 
Paul,  'I  am  persuaded  that  he  is  able  to  keep 
that  which   I  have  committed  unto  him  unto 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


271 


that  day/  what  will  it  matter  ?  what  will  it  mat- 
ter V 

Keuben  stood  silently  for  a  moment  after  ask- 
ing that  question.  His  earnest  eyes  glanced 
rapidly  over  the  large  audience  and  fell  on  the 
white  face  of  Peyton  Seymore  in  passing.  Then 
he  said  reverently,  ^^Let  us  pray." 

It  was  a  prayer  that  made  an  indelible  im- 
pression on  more  than  one  of  his  hearers,  but 
upon  none  more  than  upon  the  man  who  for 
vears  had  turned  his  back  on  God's  word  and 
had  refused  to  believe  in  prayer. 

"O  God !  give  us  strong  convictions  of  our 
own  sinfulness,  and  of  thy  holiness  and  truth. 
Let  us  be  ashamed  to  insult  thee  by  neglecting 
to  know  thee  as  thou  hast  revealed  thyself  in 
thy  word,  or  by  half-way  knowing  and  serving 
thee."  He  closed  with  an  earnest  prayer  for 
^^the  strangers  that  are  in  our  midst." 

When  the  singing  began,  Marthy's  voice 
sounded  unusually  sweet  and  tender.  She  sang 
as  if  inspired,  and  Peyton  Seymore  leaned  for- 
ward to  see  her  face.  In  doing  so  he  looked  full 
into  the  eyes  of  Grace  Fields.  For  a  moment 
the  eifect  on  him  was  startling.  He  uttered  a 
low  exclamation,  unintelligible  even  to  the  pro- 
fessor, who  was  sitting  next  to  him,  who  only 
saw  that  Seymore  appeared  excited  and  sur- 


272  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

l^rised.  Then  by  a  powerful  effort  he  controlled 
himself  and  resumed  a  position  that  hid  him 
from  the  singers.  As  soon  as  the  hymn  was  over 
he  slipj^ed  out ;  he  could  hardly  have  told  why, 
except  that  he  felt  the  need  of  fresh  air. 

As  for  Grace  Fields,  she  sustained  the  woman's 
reputation  by  recovering  her  self-control  more 
promptly  than  Mr.  Seymore.  By  the  time  she 
boffan  the  last  verse  of  the  hvmn  there  was 
scarcelv  a  tremor  in  her  voice,  though  her  heart 
Avas  still  beating  wildly. 

She  was  perfectly  sure  that  Peyton  Seyinore 
was  in  the  audience  while  he  was  trying  to  con- 
vince himself  that  somebody  in  this  far-away 
mountain  assemblage  resembled  Grace  Fields, 
the  woman  that  he  had  loved  and  hated  by  turns 
for  five  years ! 

The  questions  that  were  perplexing  him  as  he 
walked  awav  from  the  arbor  was,  How  can  I 
find  out  whether  it  is  really  Grace,  and  How 
will  she  treat  me  if  I  attempt  to  speak  to 
her? 

"If  it  should  prove  to  be  Grace  Fields,  in- 
deed,'' he  said  to  himself,  "I  shall  be  inclined  to 
believe  in  what  they  call  providential  dealings, 
but  what  is  she  doing  here !" 

But  the  unexpected  sight  of  Grace  Fields  was 
not  the  only  thing  that  stirred  Peyton  Seymore 


s 

i 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  273 

to-day.  There  had  come  to  him  while  Reuhen 
Delton  was  preaching  such  a  sense  of  his  own 
vacillation  in  reference  to  the  supreme  interests 
of  his  sonl,  such  a  consciousness  of  trifling  and 
ignorance  concerning  those  things  of  which  this 
fearless,  happy-hearted  mountaineer  spoke  so 
earnestly  that  he  acknowledged  to  himself  that, 
weighing  all  of  his  so-called  successes  and  pros- 
perity in  life  against  Reuben  Delton's  strong 
convictions,  and  their  outcome  in  his  beautiful 
life  for  his  fellows,  his  own  life  was  but  a  barren 
failure  in  comparison. 

While  these  thoughts  swept  rapidly  through 
his  mind  the  crowd  was  dispersing  for  dinner, 
which  was  to  be  eaten  in  the  adjoining  grove. 

^^Where  is  Mr.  Sevmore  ?"  asked  Reuben  when 
he  extended  a  courteous  invitation  to  the  fishing 
party  to  take  dinner  with  him. 

^^I  guess  that  you  ran  him  off  by  your  plain 
speaking,"  said  the  professor. 

The  party  declined  remaining,  giving  as  their 
excuse  the  fact  that  dinner  would  be  prepared  at 
Camp  Idlewild,  and  nobody  would  be  there  to 
eat  it  but  Fred  Linton. 

When  Reuben  found  Seymore,  he  renewed 
his  invitation  to  him,  but  it  was  courteously  de- 
clined. 

"I  cannot  go  without  telling  you,  Delton,  that 


274 


Reiihen  Delton,  Preaclier. 


YOiir  sermon  lias  moved  me  profoundly.  You 
have  showed  me  the  shallo^^^less  of  my  own 
mind  and  heart  and  the  cowardliness  of  my 
judgments." 

^'Let  me  do  more  than  that  if  I  can/'  replied 
Reuben,  earnestly. 

"I  would  like  to  have  a  quiet  talk  with  you/' 
said  Seymore.     ^^Can  I  ?" 

^'^Certainly.  Suppose  you  come  over  this  af- 
ternooUj  and  I  wdll  take  you  to  Buena  Vista, 
my  wife's  mountain  view.     Come  about  four." 

Pevton  Sevmore  hesitated  for  a  moment,  then 
he  said,  ^'May  I  ask  you  a  question  first  ?  It  is 
not  so  irrelevant  as  it  may  seem." 

"Ask  any  number/'  responded  Reuben,  pleas- 
antlv. 

"Who  was  the  lady  sitting  next  to  Mrs.  Del- 
ton  during  service  ?" 

"That  was  Miss  Fields,  our  teacher  and  spe- 
cial friend.     Do  vou  know  her  ?" 

"Fields  !  a  teacher !  I  knew  one  Miss  Fields, 
but  it  is  impossible  that  she  could  be  here  as  a 
teacher,  and  yet,"  he  added,  "the  resemblance 
is  very  striking." 

"This  is  Miss  Grace  Fields,"  said  Reuben. 

The  others  of  the  party  w^ere  drawing  near, 
and  Seymore  had  onlv  time  to  say  in  a  low  tone, 
"I  do  not  care  to  meet  her  until  after  I  have 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  275 

talked  with  yoii.  Can  I  join  you  without  hav- 
ing to  meet  her  ?" 

^'Yes/'  replied  Reuben,  much  surprised,  but 
too  polite  to  ask  questions ;  "cross  the  fence  be- 
low the  garden,  and  go  to  the  barn-yard.  I  will 
meet  you  there  at  the  stile." 

The  wagon  was  ready  by  this  time,  and  the 
party  drove  away,  all  speaking  in  high  terms  of 
preaching  and  preacher. 

The  hours  passed  slowdy  for  Peyton  Sey- 
more  between  one  and  four  o'clock. 

Fred  Linton  had  asked  him  to  go  fishing,  and 
was  surprised  when  the  invitation  was  declined 
because  of  an  engagement  with  Reuben  Delton. 

"Whew!  You  are  really  getting  quite  re- 
ligious, Seymore !  Preaching  in  the  morning 
and  preacher  in  the  afternoon !'' 

The  surprise  of  Fred  Linton  was  still  greater 
when  Seymore  quietly  replied,  "It  would  not 
hurt  either  of  us  to  be  more  religious  than  we 
are.  I  would  give  half  of  the  filthy  lucre  that  I 
possess  to  be  anything  like  the  man  Delton  is," 
and  he  walked  away. 

Reuben  Delton  was  waiting  at  the  barn-yard 
stile  when  he  arrived,  and  they  had  passed 
through  the  fields  beyond,  probably  a  quarter 
of  a  mile,  when,  suddenly,  a  turn  in  the  pretty 
valley  brought  them  to  the  view  that  Marthy 


276  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

had  named  Buena  Vista.  There  Reuben  halted 
and  pointed  to  the  gn-p  in  the  hills  where  the 
only  view  of  the  distant  mountains  could  be 
seen. 

The  valley  narrowed  here,  and  from  a  wooden 
hillside  on  the  right  jutted  a  cliff.  At  its  foot 
gurgled  a  fine  spring  of  delightful  water. 

Here  the  Deltons  had  arranged  a  seat,  and 
pointing  to  it,  Reuben  said,  ^^Let  us  sit  here, 
Mr.  Seymore.  It  is  one  of  our  favorite  Sunday 
afternoon  resorts,  but  we  will  be  safe  from  in- 
trusion to-day." 

Peyton  Seymore  sat  down,  and  taking  his 
hat  off,  leaned  back  against  the  fine  birch  tree 
behind  him. 

"Mr.  Delton,"  he  began,  "you  are  not  more 
surprised  at  my  seeking  this  interview  than  I 
am.  A  month — a  week  ago  even — I  should 
have  hooted  the  idea  of  airing  my  opinions,  es- 
pecially my  doubts  on  religious  subjects,  for 
your  benefit.  But  you  satisfied  me  this  morn- 
ing that  you  are  a  man  of  clear  perceptions 
and  strong  convictions,  therefore  it  may  be  that 
you  can  help  one  who  has  groped  for  years,  not 
knowing  what  he  believes  and  trying  to  think 
that  he  believes  nothing.  You  seem  to  be  in 
earnest,  seem  to  be  happy,  and  your  convictions 
make  you  live  for  other  people." 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 


217 


Reuben  smiled  brightly.  "I  certainly  do  know 
in  whom  I  believe,  and  I  certainly  am  happy, 
and  I  shall  be  happier  still  if  I  can  be  of  any  ser- 
vice to  yon.  I  can  hardly  imagine  anything 
worse  than  for  a  man  to  live  in  doubt  where  his 
soul  is  concerned.'^ 

"Mr.  Seymore,  you  believe  that  the  Bible  is 
the  inspired  word  of  God  ?  I  ask  this  question 
because  all  I  know  and  can  tell  you  is  based  on 
this  belief.'' 

Peyton  Seymore  was  startled  at  the  question, 
because  it  touched  the  very  root  of  his  diflSculty. 
During  his  college  life  he  had  been  thrown  with 
a  brilliant  man  who  was  a  skeptic,  and  not  hav- 
ing been  early  taught  a  simple  faith  in  God  and 
his  word,  Seymore  fell  a  victim  to  the  folly  of 
not  believing  what  he  could  not  understand. 

"I  am  afraid  I  have  not  believed  it.  The 
truth  is,  that  I  have  doubted  everything  that  a 
man  can  doubt.  Did  you  never  pass  through 
this  phase  of  mental  development  ?" 

"1^0 ;  thank  God  !"  replied  Reuben.  "I  began 
by  believing  in  my  mother.  She  believed  in 
God  and  in  the  Bible  as  his  revealed  word. 
Therefore  I  accepted  it.  The  Bible  tells  me 
Christ  died  for  me.  It  shoAVS  me  that  faith  and 
obedience  make  the  law  of  his  kingdom.  It  tells 
me  that  love — love  to  others — is  the  rule  of  life 


278  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

in  that  kingdom.  It  is  a  simple  faith ;  but  God 
requires  of  us  simple  faith.  ^Except  ye  become 
as  little  children  je  cannot  enter  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.'  I  would  not  have  vou  think  mine  is  a 
blind  faithj  though,  nor  that  I  did  not  after- 
wards examine  for  myself^  but  I  began  where 
Clirist  tells  us  to  begin — by  believing  in  him. 
Have  you  studied  the  Bible  carefully?  My 
work  lies  chiefly  among  those  whose  unbelief  is 
based  on  igTiorance.  They  simply  do  not  know 
that  there  is  a  Bible ;  but  I  have  met  one  or  two 
so-called  skeptics,  and  I  found  them  equally 
ignorant,  so  far  as  personal  study  of  the  Bible 
was  concerned.  They  had  studied  much  that 
other  men  had  ^vritten  against  the  Bible,  but 
had  never  examined  it  for  themselves.'' 

^'Mr.  Delton,  I  do  not  own  a  Bible  now.  When 
I  began  to  develop  these  deistic  views  I  loved  a 
Christian  woman.  She  broke  with  me  because 
of  this,  and  in  my  rage  and  folly  I  burned  my 
Bible,  and  have  never  OAMied  another  since." 

Reuben  Delton  impulsively  laid  his  hand  on 
Seymore's  arm,  and  smiling  sadly,  said,  "And 
so  vou  drifted  off  over  a  sea  of  sorrow  without  a 
chart !" 

Seymore  sat  in  silence  with  his  head  resting 
against  the  tree  behind  him,  his  eyes  gazing  far 
off  where  the  turquoise  of  the  mountains  was 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  279 

lost  in  tlie  paler  blue  of  the  skv.  After  a  few 
moments,  Avithont  changing  liis  posture,  lie  said, 
^^I  saw  that  woman  at  church  this  morning.'' 

"Miss  Grace  Fields  !"  exclaimed  Delton.  "Is 
it  j)ossible !  O  Mr.  Seymore  1  I  knew  that  she 
was  a  brave  woman,  but  I  didn't  know  she  had 
courage  for  this !" 

"You  commend  her  then  for  having  blasted 
my  happiness  ?"  asked  Peyton  Seymore  in  a  bit- 
ter tone. 

"O  Mr.  Seymore !  do  not  try  to  lay  the  blame 
of  your  blasted  happiness,  if  it  is  indeed  blasted, 
on  the  woman  vou  say  that  vou  have  loved.  I 
can  not  think  of  cowardice  as  one  of  your  qual- 
ities, yet  such  an  accusation  is  prompted  by 
cowardice.  If  a  Christian  woman  must  chose 
between  her  God  and  her  lover,  she  dares  not 
hesitate.  Would  she  have  kept  her  faith  with 
God  if  she  had  married  vou,  un  unbeliever  ? 
She  dared  not  pray  ^lead  us  not  into  temptation' 
and  then  wed  a  skeptic.  Oh !  you  do  not  under- 
stand the  strength  of  faith  that  is  rooted  and 
grounded  in  Christ." 

"]S^o,  I  certainly  do  not,  though  even  a  glimpse 
of  it  through  other  eyes  makes  it  seem  wonder- 
fully attractive." 

"Did  you  at  any  time  in  your  life  feel  very 
deeply  the  need  of  a  divine  Redeemer?     I  can 


280  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

not  "understand  how  any  man  can  fail  to  find  the 
Christ  who  seeks  him.  The  condition  of  finding 
is  seeking,  just  as  that  of  receiving  is  ask- 
ing.'^ 

^'^o,  I  cannot  say  that  I  have.  To-day  I  have 
had,  perhaps  for  the  first  time,  the  conviction 
forced  upon  me  that  there  is  a  reality  and  a 
power  in  the  Christian  religion,  and  conse- 
quently in  the  Christ.'' 

"And  if  you  will  take  that  Christ  as  your  per- 
sonal Redeemer  now,  not  waiting  to  build  up  a 
conviction  of  the  truth  of  the  holy  Scriptures 
first,  but  just  coming  to  him,  needy,  helpless 
acknowledging  your  past  sinfulness  and  failure, 
as  far  as  real  happiness  is  concerned,  O  Mr. 
SejTuore !  what  a  new  life  would  begin  for  you 
to-day" 

Reuben  spoke  earnestly,  with  the  light  of  his 
o^vn  faith  and  happiness  shining  in  his  eyes  and 
lighting  his  face  with  the  beauty  of  enthusiasm. 

"You  make  it  all  seem  very  simple  and  very 
attractive,  Delton,"  said  Seymore,  gravely,  "but 
you  have  no  conception  of  the  vindictiveness  of 
my  spirit,  of  the  scoffing  that  has  possessed  my 
lips  during  these  years  since  Grace  Fields  told 
me  why  she  could  not  marry  me.  How  can  I 
ever  undo  all  that  ?  how  can  I  atone  ?'' 

'You  cannot.    Christ  will  do  that  if  you  come 


ii\r. 


Reuben  Delton,  Preaclie7\  281 

to  him.  truly  repentant  and  willing.  He  is  our 
substitute.'' 

The  sun  was  setting  in  richest  September 
glory.  Clouds  and  trees  and  fields,  all  glowed 
with  color,  and  Reuben  thought,  as  he  told 
Marthv,  that  unseen  ano'els  must  have  watched 
the  conflict  between  pride  and  faith  in  the  heart 
of  Peyton  Seymore. 

Slowly  and  reverently  he  began  to  repeat : 

"  Just  as  I  am  without  one  plea, 
But  that  thy  blood  was  shed  for  me, 
And  that  thou  bidst  me  come  to  thee — 
O  Lamb  of  God,  I  come! 

"  Just  as  I  am,  and  waiting  not 
To  rid  my  soul  of  one  dark  blot; 
To  thee,  whose  blood  can  cleanse  each  spot — 
0  Lamb  of  God,  I  come! 

"  Just  as  I  am,  though  tossed  about 
With  many  a  conflict,  many  a  doubt; 
Fightings  within  and  fears  without — 
O  Lamb  of  God,  I  come! 

"  Just  as  I  am,  thou  wilt  receive. 
Wilt  welcome,  pardon,  cleanse,  relieve; 
Because  thy  promise  i  believe — 
O  Lamb  of  God,  I  come! 

As  he  uttered  the  last  line  his  companion,  in 
a  voice  shaken  with  emotion,  said,  "0  Lamb  of 
God,  I  come !" 

Eeuben  clasped  his  hands,  too  much  moved  to 


282  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

speak.  Then  by  tacit  consent  tliey  rose  to  their 
feet. 

^^May  the  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  nn- 
derstanding  keep  your  heart  and  mind/'   said 
Renbenj  reverently^  and  they  moved  away,  for' 
the  snn  had  set. 

A¥hen  they  had  Avalked  some  little  distance, 
Seymore  spoke. 

"I  have  all  my  real  life  to  begin.     I  am  pos-  f^ 

sessed  of  ample  means.  I  have  a  fine  practice  as 
a  lawyer,  but  I  feel  now  that  I  have  never  trnly 
lived.  And,"  he  added,  hesitatingly,  ^^as  to 
Grace  Fields,  shall  I  tell  her  of  this  change  now  ? 
Surely,  her  being  here  and  my  coming  here — all 
is  what  you  would  call  a  — " 

"A  special  providence!''  answered  Reuben, 
with  a  w^insome  smile. 

"Mr.  Seymore,  you  have  asked  me — let  me 
make  the  suff^estion  that  vou  do  not  tell  her  yet. 
Meet  her  with  the  cordiality  of  old  acquaint- 
ances— nay,  more — but  wait.  A  woman's  eye 
is  quick  to  detect  any  change,  especially  where 
she  has  loved.  She  will  find  it  out  in  vour  face, 
where  I,  stranger  as  I  am,  note  a  softer  expres- 
sion, and  then — well,  we  shall  have  to  look  for 
another  teacher !" 

"!Nro !  no !"  replied  Seymore,  his  pale  face 
flushing  as  he  spoke,  and  his  tone  full  of  hope- 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  283 

lessness,  ''that  is  too  good  to  be  true.  She'' — 
but  he  did  not  finish  his  sentence,  because  he  saw 
that  he  was  replying  to  Reuben's  thought  rather 
than  his  words. 

''Take  this  with  you,  Mr.  Seymore;  it  is 
marked,  but  you  will  not  mind  that.  You  will 
notice  on  the  fly-leaf  the  words  of  the  prayer  that 
1  always  make  before  reading."  Reuben  handed 
his  well-worn  pocket  Bible  to  him,  and  on  the 
fly-leaf,  as  he  glanced  at  it,  Peyton  Seymore 
read,  "Open  thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold 
wondrous  things  out  of  thy  law." 

They  parted  at  the  fence,  and  Reuben  re- 
turned to  the  house  with  a  glad  heart. 

The  fishing  party,  after  a  week  of  fine  sport 
on  Little  Peach  Creek  and  up  in  Peach  Creek 
Cove,  left  for  Asheyille,  highly  delighted  with 
the  country  and  with  their  success.  But  they 
left  one  of  their  number  behind. 

Peyton  Seymore  was  "so  pleased  with  the  cli- 
mate and  the  people  "in  Peach  Creek  Valley" 
that  he  decided  to  remain.  He  made  no  expla- 
nations, and  the  gentlemen  were  too  polite  to 
make  inquiries,  but  ^lajor  Burnby  sententiously 
remarked  when  he  heard  the  news,  "Two  and 
two  make  four,  sir,  and  I  know  it !" 


CHAPTEK  VIII. 

A  Yeah^s  Changes. 

IT  is  September  again,  with  September's  deep 
blue  skies,  genial  sunshine,  and  crystal 
^autumn  air  that  make  it  the  very  gem  of  months 
in  the  mountains. 

A  busy,  eventful  year  has  passed  since  we 
were  with  the  Deltons — a  year  eventful  for  them 
as  for  others  whose  acquaintance  we  have  made. 

On  the  porch  of  Valley  Manse,  reveling  in  the 
beauty  that  surrounds  her,  sits  our  old  friend. 
Miss  Grey  son,  looking  little  changed  by  the 
years  that  have  passed  since  we  saw  her  last  at 
Blowing  Rock,  save  for  the  hair  that  has  many 
silver  threads  among  the  gold. 

Marthy  sits  beside  her  with  a  more  matronly 
air  about  her,  and  her  sweet  baby-girl  in  her 
arms,  a  second  Marthy — Ida — this,  but  kno^vn 
by  various  pet  names :  ^'^Marsie,  "Beauty,"  "Lit- 
tle Joy,''  and  sometimes  even  "Sugar  Lump  !" 

Greyson  is  playing  in  the  yard  and  singing 
as  he  plays,  "On'ard,  kistyen  sojer,"  with  more 
correctness  of  tune  than  of  pronunciation. 

The  manse  has  gained  in  beauty  since  we  saw 


Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  285 

it  last,  for  the  vines  adorn  the  entire  front  of  the 
house  as  well  as  the  porch,  and  the  flowers  are 
more  luxuriant  than  ever  in  the  pretty  beds  be- 
fore the  door. 

Early  in  June  of  this  year  Miss  Greyson  had 
rejoiced  the  hearts  of  the  Deltons  by  writing 
that  if  Reuben  would  meet  her  or  send  for  her 
at  the  nearest  railroad  station,  she  w^ould  like 
to  be  a  ^^sunimer  boarder"  with  them  if  it  suited. 
She  could  not  wait  any  longer  to  see  the  new 
baby  or  the  new  home,  and  last  but  not  least, 
her  boy  Greyson. 

It  did  not  take  the  Deltons  long  to  decide  that 
it  suited  them,  and  that  they  needed  to  see  Miss 
Greyson  as  badly  as  she  needed  to  see  them. 

Reuben,  accordingly,  went  for  her  in  a  com- 
fortable surrey  belonging  to  Superintendent  Lax- 
ley,  now  one  of  his  best  friends,  and  Miss  Grey- 
son spent  the  last  night  of  June  as  her  first  un- 
der the  roof  of  Yallev  Manse. 

She  had  been  with  them  now  for  two  months, 
taking  the  deepest  interest  in  all  that  concerned 
the  family  and  the  people  among  whom  Reuben 
labored. 

Almost  in  sight  of  the  house,  and  only  a  short 
distance  from  the  ford,  rose  a  church  that  was 
the  joy  of  Reuben's  heart  and  the  pride  of 
Marthy's.    We  apportion  these  emotions  in  this 


-J* 

286  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher.  | 

way  because  Reuben  says  Martby  earned  the 
right  to  be  prond  of  it,  while  he  could  only  re-  *| 

joice  in  it  as  the  desire  of  his  heart.  It  was  mod- 
est in  him  to  say  this,  for  he  had  surely  a  right 
to  claim  much  of  the  success  as  his.  ]^ot  only 
the  generosity  of  the  mountain  people,  who  had 
given  so  nobly  of  both  time  and  material,  was 
due  to  his  splendid  influence  over  them,  but  the 
largest  gifts  to  the  building  fund  had  come  from 
the  fishing  party. 

Put  awav  amono;  their  treasures,  Reuben  and 
Marthy  had  the  following  letter,  which  give  the 
reader  some  idea  of  the  results  of  Peyton  Sey- 
more's  acquaintance  with  the  Deltons : 

Dec.  — ,  18 . 

"Deae  Me.  Deltox  : 

"Will  you  appropriate  the  enclosed  check  for 
your  church  building  fund  ?  I  know  something 
of  how  greatly  ^frs.  Delton  and  yourself  de- 
sire to  build,  and  if  vou  are  in  need  of  more 
money,  call  on  me.  I  shall  consider  it  a  high 
privilege.  !N"othing  material  can  ever  make  an 
adequate  return  for  all  the  benefit  I  received, 
not  only  from  your  words,  but  your  life,  but  a 
grateful  heart  is  glad  to  express  itself  in  any 
way.  Your  reward  will  be  bestowed  by  him  you 
serve,  and  to  whom  you  pointed  me  as  the  Way 
and  the  Truth  and  the  Life  ! 


Reuben  Deltoiij  Preacher.  287 

"But  Yoii  know  I  owe  Peach  Creek  Valley  so 
nuicli !  If  there  had  not  have  been  the  finest  of 
speckled  trout  in  its  streams,  I  would  not  have 
gone  there.  If  I  had  not  gone  there,  I  would 
not  have  known  vou.  If  I  had  not  kno\\Ti  vou 
and  heard  you  preach,  I  would  not,  nay,  I  can- 
not say  that,  for  I  must  not  limit  God's  power  to 
save,  but  I  can  say  that  if  I  had  not  told  you  all 
my  story,  I  would  not  to-day  be  the  accepted 
lover  of  Grace  Fields!  She  has  given  me  per- 
mission to  tell  this,  and  to  say  that  we  hope  some 
day  to  hear  you  preach  in  that  new  church. 

"With  kindest  regards  for  Mrs.  Delton  and 
a  kiss  for  that  splendid  boy, 

"I  am  sincerely  your  friend, 

"Peyton  Seymoee.'' 

A  check  for  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  ac- 
companied this  letter,  and  Marthy's  heart  beat 
a  glad  acknowledgment  of  Mr.  Seymore's  gen- 
erosity. 

Poth  Major  Burnby  and  Dr.  i^eilson  had  con- 
tributed, when  they  were  leaving,  smaller 
amounts,  it  is  true,  but  the  expression  of  their 
hearty  approval  of  Reuben  Delton  and  his  work. 
And  so  earlv  in  October  the  buildino;  was  be- 
gun,  and  the  roof  was  on  by  the  time  the  cold 
weather  checked  further  work. 


288  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

It  was  a  simple  striictiire,  but  neatly  and  care- 
fully built,  and  was  set  on  a  pretty  knoll  several 
hundred  yards  back  from  tlie  road.  There  were 
seveial  fine  hemlocks  and  chestnut  trees  around 
it,  and  rhododendrons  and  ivies  adorned  the 
yard. 

The  interior  was  ceiled  with  hemlock,  and 
the  windows  were  large. 

Since  thev  had  had  such  generous  assistance 
from  outside,  they  were  anxious  that  the  church 
should  be  made  in  every  way  attractive. 

"I  think,  preacher,  that  God's  houses  ought 
to  be  more  beautiful  and  as  comfortable  as  our 
own.  Don't  you  believe  it  educates  people  to 
have  beautiful  things  about  them  ?" 

"You  are  right,  little  woman,  if  we  can  only 
but  sure  when  to  stop  short  of  extravagance. 
You  know  we  could  soon  pass  that  line  here, 
where  there  is  so  much  absolute  distress  and 
need  for  aid.  You  know  how  important  it  is 
for  us  to  have  school  houses — one  here  near  the 
church  and  others  in  the  coves." 

"Yes,  I  know  that,"  said  Marthy,  with  a  slight 
shadow  of  disappointment  on  her  bright  face, 
"but  oh !  preacher  dear,  pray  let  us  have  one 
pretty  window  back  of  the  pulpit  and  a  pretty 
pulpit  stand,  not  one  of  those  boxy  affairs  that 
are  in  all  the  churches  I  have  ever  seen.     You 


Reuhen  Delton,  Preacher.  289 

know  Miss  Greyson  thoii.c'lit  so,  and  she  and 
Mrs.  Bontelle  have  helped  ns,  and  spoken  spe- 
cially of  the  window." 

Marthy's  pleadings  Avere  successful,  and  there 
was  a  pretty  and  inexpensive  colored  window 
behind  tlie  pulpit  that  was  a  never-ceasing  source 
of  pleasure  to  those  who  had  never  seen  any- 
thing like  it  before,  and  could  not  compare  it 
with  more  pretentious  work  of  the  kind. 

And  the  lectern  was  neat  and  pretty  and  not 
^^boxy,"  much  to  Marthy's  delight. 

The  generous  donation  of  lumber  and  of  time, 
for  there  were  many  men  willing  to  help  on  the 
church,  attested  the  interest  of  the  whole  neigh- 
borhood in  'New  Hope  Church. 

The  day  of  the  dedication  was  a  happy  one  for 
these  faithful  workers,  and,  indeed,  for  many 
people  from  the  coves,  and  from  the  whole  re- 
gion. 

Mr.  Dellinger,  through  whose  efforts  Keuben 
had  been  called  to  this  field,  was  present,  and 
said  many  kind  words  of  praise  and  encourage- 
ment, and  the  cup  of  happiness  was  full  to  the 
brim  for  Rtuben  and  Marthy. 

There  w^ere  now  schools  taught  at  three  points 
and  in  fairly  comfortable  buildings  by  young 
men  and  women  who  had  been  themselves 
trained  in  mountain  schools,  men  and  women 


290  Reuben  Delton,  Pi^eaclier. 

moved  by  the  same  impulse  as  Reuben  and 
Marthy  Delton,  who  took,  as  they  had  taken  as 
their  motto,  that  of  the  Greek  racers,  ^^Having 
received  light,  give!'' 

The  reader  must  not  think  that  we  have  lost 
sight  of  Dan  Euger  in  our  efforts  to  keep  up 
with  the  work  of  the  Deltons  in  Peach  Creek 
Valley. 

His  case  had  been  tried  at  the  spring  term 
of  court,  and  Heuben  had  gone  over  to  Boone 
as  he  had  promised,  and  had  testified  so  elo- 
quently in  Ruger's  behalf  that  the  solicitor  had 
said  to  him,  with  a  laugh,  ^'Mr.  Delton,  youVe 
missed  your  calling;  you  ought  to  have  been  a 
lawyer !" 

"Thank  you,  captain,"  was  the  quick  reply. 
"I'd  rather  use  what  gifts  God  has  given  me  to 
save  men's  souls  than  their  bodies." 

■Ruger  was  sentenced  to  five  years  in  the  peni- 
tentiary. It  was  proved  that  the  man  he  had 
shot  did  not  die. 

The  poor  fellow  looked  as  if  he  would  rather 
it  had  been  a  death  sentence,  but  the  sense  of 
justice  had  come  since  his  conversion.  He  knew 
that  he  had  offended  against  the  law  and  do- 
served  to  suffer. 

"The  part  that  hurts,  preacher,"  he  said  to 
Reuben  after  he  had  been  remanded  to  jail — 


Reuben  Delton,  Preaclier.  291 

"the  part  tliat  liurts  is  ther  bein'  so  far  from 
you-iins,  an'  fur  so  long !" 

"You  can  have  better  company  than  mine," 
said  Reuben,  laying  his  hand  on  Ruger's  Bible. 
"Study  this,  and  live  so  that  you  may  be  a  wit- 
ness for  your  Lord.  You  will  have  many 
chances  to  help  others  to  find  him.'' 

"I'm  glad  you  said  that.  I  never  think  o'  my 
bein'  shut  up,  but  because  I've  been  Avicked  an' 
broke  the  laws.  If  I  kin  be  of  use  to  somebody 
thar,  ef  I  kin  serve  ther  Lord  thar,  I  kin  stand 
it  a  heap  better." 

"Remember  I  shall  never  forget  you,  Ruger, 
and  I  shall  keep  on  trying  to  get  the  governor 
to  pardon  you." 

He  shook  Ruger's  hand  heartily  and  was  gone. 

Reuben  paid  a  flying  visit  to  his  Wautauga 
friends  at  this  time,  and  met  with  a  loving  wel- 
come. AVlien  he  looked  out  on  the  majestic  view 
from  Mountain  Manse,  there  was  a  pang  in  his 
heart  that  was  only  soothed  by  recalling  cosy 
Valley  Manse  and  its  sweet,  brave  mistress,  who 
had  never  uttered  one  murmur  since  she  had  setr 
tled  there.  And  he  thanked  God,  silently,  that 
his  work  in  Peach  Creek  Valley  had  been 
blessed.  He  had  found  noble  men  and  women 
there^  warm-hearted  and  generous,  who  had  wcl- 


292  Reuben  Belton,  Preacher. 

corned  him  and  helped  him  "to  their  power,  yea, 
and  beyond  their  power."  Men  and  women 
who  only  needed  a  leader  to  be  ready  to  work, 
and  the  changed  condition  of  many  of  the 
squalid  homes  he  had  found  a  year  before  at- 
tested to  the  work  he  was  doing. 

Let  us  make  a  visit  to  Benny  McCune,  the 
cripple  boy  of  Crab  Tree  Cove. 

We  will  not  have  to  go  far  to  find  him,  for 
Reuben  Delton  never  rested  until  he  got  the 
family  moved  to  a  cabin  near  Peach  Creek  Ford, 
where  he  could  give  Benny  more  attention,  and 
where  there  was  a  chance  for  McCune  and  his 
oldest  boy  to  get  something  to  do.  They  were 
both  employed  now  at  mica  digging  for  Laxley. 

In  a  plain  but  comfortable  chair  we  will  find 
Benny  busy  with  his  knife,  or  maybe  reading, 
for  generous  friends  have  provided  not  only  the 
chair,  but  a  Bible  of  his  own  and  other  books, 
and  The  Youth's  Companion.  Every  now  and 
then,  in  addition,  come  pictures  sent  by  some 
thoughtful  Christian  who  are  trying,  in  the 
Master's  name,  to  make  others  happy. 

But  Benny  is  not  merely  living  for  amuse- 
ment now.  Bennv  McCune  is  one  of  the  bread- 
winners  of  the  f amilv  1  His  mother  never  fails 
to  tell  this  wonderful  storv  to  all  who  come  to 


Reuben  Delton,  Preaclier,  293 

see  him,  and  she  is  as  much  changed,  at  heart, 
as  Benny  is.  He  has  learned  tO'  carve  and  to 
make  varions  little  souvenirs  out  of  rhododen- 
dron root,  and  friends  are  interesting  them- 
selves in  the  sale  of  them. 

Reuben  Delton's  work  in  the  coves  has  not  all 
been  successful.  There  are  stolid  people  there 
still;  there  are  men  and  women  whose  lives  are 
yet  desperately  wicked,  but  Reuben  not  only 
preaches  the  gospel  of  hope,  but  he  lives  it.  He 
has  learned  as  the  years  go  by  to  regard  God's 
long-suffering  patience  as  his  most  wonderful 
attribute,  and  he  strives  to  follow  after,  though 
at  times  he  may  be  faint  with  pursuing. 

The  work  has  not  seemed  less  beautiful,  nor 
less  worthy  of  his  life-long  devotion  because  of 
discouragement. 

One  of  his  favorite  texts  is,  "The  husband- 
man waiteth  for  the  precious  fruits  of  the  earth, 
and  hath  long  patience  for  it  until  he  receive  the 
earlv  and  the  later  rain." 

The  Deltons  gave  up  Miss  Fields  with  a  curi- 
ous blending  of  pleasure  and  pain.  Marthy's 
pet  name  for  her  had  been  "The  Exception," 
which,  being  interpreted,  means  that  she  re- 
garded Miss  Fields  as  an  exception  to  the  rules 
for  qualification  in  a  mountain  teacher.     But 


294  Reuben  Delton,  Preacher. 

Martliy  and  Reuben  too  recognized  the  hand  of 
God  in  the  pretty  romance  of  the  meeting  of 
these  estranged  lovers,  and  they  felt  sure  that  it 
was  right  every  way  that  she  should  go. 

Grace  Fields  carried  with  her  new  and  very 
precious  ideas  of  Christian  living,  and  of  God's 
faithful  care  of  the  least  of  his  children. 


POSTSCRIPT  TO  CHAPTER  VIII. 

A  Year  Latek. 

A  TALL,  bearded  man  is  driving  a  load  of 
hay  into  tlie  barn-yard  at  Valley  Manse. 
On  the  top  of  the  hay  sits  Greyson  as  happy  as 
a  king,  and  cuddled  in  the  arms  of  the  driver  is 
little  Marsie  chattering  like  a  magpie. 

On  the  porch,  and  watching  the  scene  with  a 
smiling  face  is  Marthy. 

^'I  feel  so  safe  when  the  children  are  with  Mr. 
Ruger,  preacher,"  she  said,  turning  to  her  hus- 
band, who  has  just  returned  from  a  long  pas- 
toral tramp. 

"When  I  remember  him,  as  Linnie  and  I  saw 
him  the  night  that  Mandy  Snoggs  died,  it  is 
hard  to  believe  that  this  is  the  pale-faced,  wild- 
eyed  outlaw.  His  whole  expression  is  changed, 
and  he  looks  so  well  and  strong. 

"Yes,  it  is  wonderful,  but  it  is  just  what  true 
religion  does,  Marthy.  I  do  not  see  how  I 
could  get  on  without  him  in  the  cove  work.  I 
.saw  two  men  to-day  who  a  year  ago  were  the 
worst  men  in  this  county.  They  were  con- 
verted at  that  last  meeting  he  had  near  the  still- 


29 G  Reuben  Delton,  Preaclier. 

house,  and  now,  like  Dan  Ruger,  thej  are 
clothed  and  in  their  right  minds,  though  I  do 
not  know  that  they  will  make  such  workers  as 
he  is/' 

^'AYe'll  hope  so  and  pray  so/'  said  Marthy, 
softly. 

''Yes,  little  woman,  we  will !" 

Just  then  they  could  hear  the  words  that 

Ruger  was  singing  as  he  fed  the  stock : 

"  Love  I  much  ?     I'm  much  forgiven  ! 
I'm  a  miracle  of  grace ! 

''That  is  so!"  exclaimed  Reuben,  and  Marthy 
agreed  with  him. 

We  will  leave  these  busy  workers  now,  pray- 
ing that  those  who  have  read  this  simple  story 
may  look  on  the  beautiful  work  that  is  being 
done  in  the  by\vays  and  coves  through  all  the 
mountain  region  of  the  South  as  none  the  less 
the  Master's  work  because  much  of  it  is  hidden 
from  the  eyes  of  the  world.  And  may  they  cheer 
the  workers  by  that  practical  sympathy  which 
is  the  natural  outcome  of  faithful  prayer ! 


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